The rise of bauxite production in Australia, Guinea foresees global production upsurge in 2021: GlobalData

The London, England headquartered data analytics and consulting company, GlobalData’s research unveils that the rise in bauxite production from mines in Australia (+4.1%) and Guinea (+3.6%) is anticipated to propel upswing in global production by 3.8% in 2021 to 372.8 million tonnes.

The resilient outlook follows a pandemic confronted 2020 that still stirred out 1.2% more bauxite production at 359.2 million tonnes than in 2019.

Vinneth Bajaj, Associate Project Manager, GlobalData, said:  “Over the forecast period (2021-2025), global bauxite production is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2% to reach 406,700 tonnes by 2025.”

The resumption of operation at Metro Mining’s Bauxite Hills Mine, which remains halted due to wet season, will support Australia’s bauxite operation growth. In 2021, the mine is envisioned to produce about four million tonnes of bauxite.

Moreover, the validated commitment of the Stage 2 expansion of the mine to a capacity of six million tonnes that stands as a part of the company’s long-term development plan will be relative to the global market conditions.

In January 2020, Guinea’s Boffa mine operation was initiated, which is predicted to uniformly to outreach its full capacity by H2 2021. The mine is forecasted for output by around 9 million tonnes of bauxite in 2021, which resembled 7 million tonnes in 2020.

The Garafiri project operation commenced in Guinea during the earlier part of 2021, that over 300 million tonnes of bauxite reserves, while primarily the production capacity of the project will be around 3 million, which will be amplified to 8 million tonnes.

China Railway Construction Corporation announced the accomplishment of the construction of a railway line from Boffa to Boke in the latter part of July 2021, which will now enlarge the single trip freight volume to 10,000 tonnes, up from 5,000 tonnes, a rise by 100%, as part of the initial phase of the Boke development project.

However, Phases 2 and 3 comprises exploitation of bauxite resources in the fresh mining areas of Santou II and Houda and also the development of an alumina refinery in the Boke special economic zone.

According to GlobalData, all these developments will play a vital role in instituting Guinea as a recognised export nation.