First Iron Ore Shipment from Simandou Project Sets Sail for China, Opening Full Industry Chain

Published: Dec 6, 2025 21:16

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At 17:30 local time on December 2 (01:30 Beijing time on December 3), at the Port of Morebaya in Guinea, an ocean-going vessel loaded with 200,000 tonnes of high-grade iron ore weighed anchor and slowly departed from the port, setting sail toward China. This marked the successful shipment of the first cargo of iron ore from the Simandou project, signifying the official opening of the entire industry chain channel—"mine-railway-port-shipping"—for this world-class iron ore deposit, which had lain dormant for nearly three decades. This is a strong practice by the Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (hereinafter referred to as "Chalco") in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, and it also writes a new chapter of win-win cooperation between China and Africa in the global iron ore trade.

The successful shipment of the first cargo of iron ore marks the official entry of the Simandou project into the commercial operation phase. Under the strategy of "phased implementation and gradual ramp-up to full production," the Simandou project will gradually achieve a combined annual capacity of 120 million tonnes from its northern and southern blocks, potentially positioning Guinea as the third-largest iron ore supplier after Australia and Brazil.

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