Guinea exported 182.8 million tonnes of bauxite in 2025, up 25 percent from 145 million tonnes in 2024, according to an official document from the Ministry of Mines seen by Reuters on Jan. 26. The increase comes amid legal disputes, permit withdrawals, and ongoing sector reforms, highlighting the resilience of the country’s mining industry.
Guinea has been the world’s leading bauxite exporter since 2023, and despite operational and regulatory uncertainties, production and shipments continued to expand last year. The sector has attracted significant attention as the government presses for increased local processing and tighter compliance with mining agreements.
As part of a wave of regulatory actions, the Guinean state withdrew the mining rights of UAE-based Axis Minerals, accusing the company of failing to meet contractual obligations. Axis Minerals had exported 16 million tonnes of bauxite between January and May 14, 2025, when the permit revocation was announced. The company has challenged the decision through international arbitration, creating ongoing uncertainty over its operations in the country.
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), another UAE-based company, was also embroiled in a dispute in Guinea after delays in constructing a planned alumina refinery. In August 2025, the government transferred EGA’s operating rights to Nimba Mining Company (NMC), a newly established state-owned enterprise. NMC is expected to contribute significantly to Guinea’s bauxite output in the coming years, supporting the country’s strategy to expand domestic processing and maximize revenue.
Despite these disruptions, more than 20 companies continued bauxite exports in 2025, including China’s Chalco, the Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée—a joint venture involving Rio Tinto and Alcoa—and Société Minière de Boké (SMB). The Ministry of Mines has not yet released official revenue figures for the year, but production volumes indicate that Guinea’s bauxite sector remained robust.
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Analysts say Guinea’s ability to sustain exports amid disputes reflects the scale of its reserves and established infrastructure. The country possesses some of the world’s largest high-grade bauxite deposits, mainly concentrated in the Boké region, and relies on well-developed port and rail systems to transport ore to international buyers.
Looking ahead, the coming months will be critical to assessing how the newly created Nimba Mining Company performs, especially as the government seeks to implement its broader vision of increasing local processing through new alumina refineries. Authorities aim to capture more value domestically by converting raw bauxite into higher-value products, which could boost government revenues and support long-term economic development.
The sector reforms also include tighter oversight of contractual obligations, environmental compliance, and social investment commitments, in line with Guinea’s goal of ensuring that the mining industry benefits both investors and local communities.
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While legal disputes with foreign companies have generated headlines, production continuity suggests that Guinea’s mining industry is adapting to a more assertive regulatory framework. Market observers note that balancing investor confidence with state-led reforms will be key to sustaining Guinea’s status as the top global bauxite exporter.
With the 2026 financial year now underway, policymakers and industry stakeholders will closely monitor export trends, the performance of Nimba Mining Company, and progress on domestic processing projects. Guinea’s experience illustrates the challenges and opportunities faced by resource-rich countries seeking to combine production growth with sector reforms and value addition.
