Guinea Revokes Mining Licenses, Impacting Bauxite Production and Alumina Prices

On May 14, 2025, the Guinean government ordered the revocation of industrial and semi-industrial mining licenses for over 40 mining companies, including "Axis Minérales, substance, Bauxite, Nature de l’acte d’octroi, D-2018-267-PRG SGG, Date d’octroi et de fin, 2-11-2018-1er-11-2033". It is reported that this mining right involves some projects that are currently mining and exporting bauxite. Recently, it was learned that projects operating in the mining area received notices to suspend production, involving an annual bauxite capacity exceeding 10 million tonnes. Relevant companies may engage in negotiations with the government. The specific impact remains to be assessed, and SMM will continue to follow up.

Affected by this, alumina night session prices surged significantly. By the time the news was released, the most-traded alumina contract once approached the daily price limit, with daily position increases of nearly 10,000 lots.