China tightens grip on bauxite as demand for green energy minerals soars

China is bracing its position as a key player in the global minerals market, with a sharp focus on bauxite, a critical raw material for aluminium production. In the first nine months of last year alone, China's bauxite imports surged by 20 per cent, among other minerals, a judicious progress to secure resources vital for its domestic industries.

Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauxite

This drive comes as the world increasingly pivots towards green energy and innovative technologies, both of which rely heavily on minerals like bauxite, copper, and cobalt. Aluminium, derived from bauxite, is essential for renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics.

According to S&P Global, China's reliance on imported bauxite is as high as 57 per cent. Guinea, as the primary supplier of bauxite to the nation, plays a crucial role in China's import figures. The disruption in Guinea's bauxite export scenario has, therefore, had a significant impact on China's bauxite supply, highlighting the importance of Guinea's bauxite supply.

From January to September, bauxite supply from Guinea totalled 84.4924 million tonnes, accounting for 70.73 per cent of entire imports, rising 11.4 per cent Y-o-Y. In September, imports from Guinea dropped and were calculated to be 6.6926 million tonnes, descending 39.18 per cent M-o-M and 0.51 per cent lesser Y-o-Y. The imports dropped sharply, i.e. by 39.18 per cent M-o-M and 0.51 per cent Y-o-Y, with an absolute decrease of 4.311 million tonnes.

China's dominance is stimulated by massive investments in global mining operations. Last year, Chinese firms poured nearly USD 16 billion (approximately INR 1.3 lakh crore) into international mines, the largest such investment in a decade. These investments span multiple nations, including Afghanistan, Ghana, and Zambia, targeting bauxite alongside copper, gold, and other prudent minerals.

While these efforts strengthen China's industrial supply chains, they also heighten concerns about global dependency on Chinese-controlled resources. Western nations and other stakeholders worry about potential disruptions to the supply chain and the broader implications for global trade.

As the green energy revolution gathers pace, bauxite's role as a cornerstone mineral becomes increasingly apparent. China's growing dominance in this sector is not only reshaping the resource landscape but also raising critical questions about the balance of power in the global minerals market.