BUSINESS

Simandou’s First Iron Ore Shipment Arrives in China

Published: Jan. 19, 2026 12:22 p.m. GMT+8

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The ship departed Guinea on Dec. 2 and entered Chinese waters on Jan. 15, completing the voyage in 46 days.

The first shipment of iron ore from the massive Simandou project in Guinea arrived at a Chinese port on Saturday, marking a significant milestone for the more than $20 billion project expected to reshape the global steel supply chain.

Simandou, located in the remote mountains of southeastern Guinea, holds the world’s largest untapped reserves of high-grade iron ore. Its operational launch is widely viewed as a “game-changer” that could diversify global supply and reduce China’s heavy reliance on traditional mining giants in Australia and Brazil.

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The first Simandou iron ore shipment from Guinea arrived in China, marking a major step for the $20+ billion project with 4.4 billion tons of high-grade reserves.
Simandou is expected to reshape global steel supply, potentially producing 120 million tons annually—about 10% of China’s 2024 imports.
Chinese firms are key investors; Baowu will receive the largest share of the ore, at 31 million tons annually once at full capacity.

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Who’s Who

Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd.: Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. (600019.SH) provided tugboats for the first shipment of iron ore from the Simandou project at Majishan port. The company is a key player in the reception and processing of this new ore supply.

Aluminum Corp. of China: Aluminum Corp. of China (Chinalco) is a state-owned company involved in the Simandou project. It is part of a joint venture with Rio Tinto PLC developing the southern block of the mine. Chinalco's equity share of the ore is projected to be 18 million tons per year once Simandou reaches full capacity.

Rio Tinto PLC: Rio Tinto PLC is a joint venture partner with Aluminum Corp. of China (Chinalco) in developing the southern block of the Simandou iron ore project. Once fully operational, Rio Tinto's equity share of the ore from Simandou is projected to be 27 million tons per year.

Shandong Weiqiao Aluminum & Power Co. Ltd.: Shandong Weiqiao Aluminum & Power Co. Ltd. is mentioned as one of the key backers of the Winning Consortium Simandou. This consortium is responsible for developing the northern block of the Simandou project, a massive iron ore mine in Guinea.

China Baowu Steel Group Corp. Ltd.: China Baowu Steel Group Corp. Ltd. is involved in the Simandou iron ore project, specifically in the development of its northern block. As the world's largest steelmaker, Baowu plans to utilize a substantial portion of the Simandou ore internally. Once the project reaches full capacity, Baowu's equity share of the ore is expected to be around 31 million tons annually.

Winning International Group: Winning International Group (新加坡赢联盟国际集团) is a Singapore-headquartered entity. It is part of the Winning Consortium Simandou, which is developing the northern block of the Simandou project. This consortium also includes Shandong Weiqiao Aluminum & Power Co. Ltd. and China Baowu Steel Group Corp. Ltd.

Vale: While the article focuses on the Simandou project and its implications for China's iron ore supply, it mentions Vale indirectly. Simandou's high-grade iron ore is compared in quality only to **Vale's** Carajás mine, highlighting the exceptional quality of Simandou's reserves.

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What Happened When

December 2, 2025：: The Capesize bulk carrier Winning Youth departed Guinea carrying 200,000 tons of iron ore from the Simandou project.

January 15, 2026：: The ship Winning Youth entered Chinese waters, having traveled from Guinea.

January 17, 2026：: The first shipment of iron ore from Simandou docked at Majishan port in Zhejiang province, China at 11:40 a.m., marking the project's first delivery to China.

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