Guinea coup upends China strategy as aluminum prices soar

Beijing's dependence on Australia rises while uncertainty clouds African source

20210907NY GUINEA coup Colonel doumbouya

In this image made from video, Lt. Col. Mamady Doumbouya, center, commander of the army's special forces unit, surrounded by others and draped in a Guinean flag, makes an address to the nation from state television headquarters in Guinea's capital, Conakry, on Sept. 5. © AP

TAKESHI KUMON and IORI KAWATE, Nikkei staff writers

CAIRO/BEIJING -- The coup in Guinea appears likely to keep aluminum prices at historic highs for the foreseeable future, as the West African country -- home to the world's largest reserves of bauxite -- is mired in political uncertainty.

No country will be impacted more than China, the leading aluminum producer globally and the biggest consumer of bauxite, from which the production material is derived.

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