Sierra Leone’s exports of bauxite projected to decline in 2018; Romania remains the top importer

Sierra Leone’s primary mineral resources are diamonds, rutile, bauxite and gold among others. The country’s exports of bauxite have been rising over the last three years.Total bauxite export volume is expected to decrease in 2018. 

Romania imports the largest chunk of bauxite from Sierra Leone. Romania imported 1.3 million tonnes of bauxite in 2017. China and India also import substantial amount of bauxite from the country. Sierra Leone exported 50,535 tonnes and 47,401 tonnes of bauxite to China and India respectively.

According to recent estimates, in 2016, Sierra Leone exported 1370182 tonnes of bauxite globally. The total revenue from the export stood at US$ 60 million. In 2017, the country exported an estimated 1412499 tonnes of bauxite. The total revenue from the export was US$ 293 million.

The country is estimated to export around 1280649 tonnes of bauxite and the revenue from export is estimated to be about US$ 327 million.

Sierra Minerals, part of the international industrial and investment group Vimetco N.V., is the only bauxite mine in Sierra Leone and the second largest mining employer in the country. The mine has a resource base of approximately 31 million tonnes and currently produces around 1.2 million tonnes of bauxite per annum for export.