Bauxite 360 forms part of IG’s expanding Commodities 360° research series and combines detailed market analysis with regular updates and access to IG’s Research & Advisory team. The series already covers iron ore and agricultural products.
The launch comes after global seaborne bauxite exports reached a record 251 million tonnes in 2025, an increase of 18% year-on-year, with volumes increasing by a further 9.2% year-on-year during the first half of 2026.
The market is also exceptionally concentrated. Guinea supplied approximately 175Mt in 2025 – around 70% of global seaborne bauxite supply – while Guinea and Australia together accounted for approximately 89% of global shipments. China received around 86% of global volumes.
IG expects this concentration to become still more significant. Global export capacity is projected to increase from approximately 251Mt to 315Mt by 2030, with Guinea accounting for around 59Mt of the projected increase, compared with approximately 5Mt from all other producing countries combined.
This growth has important implications not only for the aluminium supply chain, but also for dry bulk shipping. Around 83% of Guinea’s bauxite exports currently move on Capesize vessels, while the country’s policy decisions, infrastructure development and growing domestic refining ambitions have the potential to influence future trade patterns and freight demand.
Report author and Dry Research Senior Advisor Laura Gomez said:
“Bauxite has developed into a major dry bulk commodity, but what makes the market particularly interesting is its concentration. Guinea now supplies around seven tonnes in every ten traded internationally, while China dominates demand.
“At the same time, new production, infrastructure investment, changing government policy and moves towards greater domestic refining in producing countries have the potential to alter both commodity and shipping flows. Bauxite 360 is designed to help clients understand those changes and what they mean for the market.”
While Guinea and Australia dominate supply, Bauxite 360 also tracks developments across the smaller producing markets. The report highlights particularly rapid growth in 2025 from Sierra Leone, Guyana and Ghana, where exports reached record levels following new capacity and growing demand from China and the Gulf.
The service examines the major producing and consuming countries, mining companies, ports and terminals, trade routes, vessel deployment and future supply capacity, bringing together commodity fundamentals and IG’s understanding of the physical freight market.
For further information:
IFCHOR GALBRAITHS Research & Advisory
[email protected]
See https://reports.ifchorgalbraiths.com/ for more information.