Guinea-Conakry limits its 2026 bauxite exports despite a 200 million tonne forecast

Guinea-Conakry is set to reduce its bauxite export volumes, starting from April 2026, to support prices and protect the smaller producers from collapsing due to volatile margins. This move comes due to the weak Chinese demand and higher freight rates because of the Middle East conflict squeezing the world’s top supplier.

Guinea-Conakry exported 183 million tonnes in 2025, which is up 25 per cent year over year, and shipments had been expected to reach 200 million tonnes in 2026, but due to the market crash, prices have fallen 25 per cent to 35 per cent from 2025 highs, while about