Guinea remains China's biggest supplier of bauxite, accounting for about three-quarters of its imports and roughly 72% of global discharges in 2025, with cargoes mainly loading at the West African exporter’s ports of Kamsar and Boffa.
According to data by Ursa Shipbrokers in Piraeus, Greece, China set yet another record for bauxite imports last year, with discharges into its ports reaching about 213 million tonnes.
This figure is up 25% from 171.1m tonnes in 2024, underscoring the strength of China’s aluminium-producing industry.
Guinea’s bauxite exports to China in 2025 also mark the fourth consecutive annual record since 2022.
Ursa’s data shows that the outflows make up 88% of all ocean-traded bauxite shipments.
Globally, bauxite discharges hit 241.4 million tonnes, a 21% year-on-year rise, boosting its share of dry bulk tonne-mile demand to nearly 9% from 7% a year earlier.
Guinea's dominant role in the bauxite market is also the impetus behind the growing use of larger bulk cargo carriers, Asia Shipping Media reports.
Last year, Newcastlemax vessels carried 36% of global volumes, while capesizes carried 28%, and post-panamaxes 16%.
Data by maritime analytics platform Signal Ocean shows seaborne flows rising 18% to around 257m tonnes, with China's import share climbing from 83% to 85%.
China's primary aluminium output reached a record 40.4m tonnes from January to November 2025, the International Aluminium Institute has said.
