Guinea, also referred to as Guinea-Conakry, after its capital, Conakry, and the second-largest bauxite exporter in the world, is redefining its maritime and mining future with new regulations aimed at increasing national control and economic advantages. In July 2025, Bouna Sylla, Minister of Mines and Geology, stated that at least 50 per cent of all bauxite exports will require shipping under the Guinean flag. This is a clear sign of Guinea's drive for more value than just raw mineral sales.
Maritime sovereignty with GUITRAM
The formation of Guinéenne des Transports Maritimes (GUITRAM), a public shipping company which will be responsible for a lot of outbound logistics for bauxite, is a central part of this reform. Thus, Guinea is not just mining but moving its mineral wealth, reaffirming logistical sovereignty. As Bouna Sylla elaborates, this represents “a wider attempt to strengthen domestic control of the value chain of the mining sector.
Rising export volumes drive urgency
Guinea’s revamped maritime regulatory actions are coming at a time when its bauxite exports are booming. In 2025, Guinea exported 34.9 million tonnes of bauxite on 312 vessels, according to Baird Maritime – up from 225 vessels in Q1 2024.
The rise in exports is also attributed to the rising bauxite demand from China, which produced 18.59 million tonnes of aluminium during the first five months of 2025. Further, the 4 per cent year-on-year growth has boosted bauxite imports, with Guinea-Conakry maintaining its status as an important supplier to China.
Guinea's annual bauxite production had also climbed from 123 million tonnes in 2023 to 124.5 million tonnes in 2024. It is expected to continue with a stable 2 per cent CAGR until 2027.
Pricing power through the Guinea Bauxite Index
To further solidify control, Guinea introduced the Guinea Bauxite Index (GBX). This was created to enhance pricing transparency and reduce reliance on alternative price discovery mechanisms. Bauxite is the second largest contributor to demand for global capesize tonnage (with bauxite even surpassing coal), and Guinea's price-setting power has new global significance. Guinea's bauxite exports were up by 126 per cent from October 2023 to September 2024, as reported in Volza data.
Also, Guinea’s bauxite exports saw another sharp rise in 2025, where the exports had increased by 37 per cent compared to 2024 and 56 per cent over 2023
Strategic implications for global trade
The new shipping regulation directs foreign operators needing to either collaborate with Guinean entities or register their vessels under the Guinean flag; this may impact global dry bulk logistics and freight economics quite significantly. Landlocked countries are challenging global shipping arrangements and will soon have compatriots with the same interests. For Guinea, this is a shift from being a raw material exporter and towards maritime players with leverage, something that other resources will surely emulate.
Through control over mineral production and maritime passage, Guinea is crafting a new model of resource nationalism that encompasses more than mines and affects global shipping routes.
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