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China Makes First Move to Challenge Iron Ore Pricing Power. Yet Reality Lags Online Hype

China buys over 70% of the world’s seaborne iron ore—by far the largest share of any country. By simple market logic, the biggest buyer should set the price. Yet for decades, China has had almost no say over pricing, forced instead to accept terms set by foreign ...

Albanese “Concerned” About BHP Iron Ore Halt

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is “concerned” about reports that China has halted iron ore orders from the Australian mining giant BHP. Shipments have reportedly been paused amid price disputes between BHP and China Mineral Resources Group, a Chinese state entity overseeing iron ore ...

Two Dead in Guinea Protests Against Chinese Mining Firm

At least two people died in clashes with security forces at a protest against a Chinese mining firm in eastern Guinea, Guinea's press agency and a local official said Monday. Saturday's demonstration in Konkoi, close to the Malian border, also left ...

Major Setback For Chinese Mining Interests in Guinea as Junta Suspends Simandou Iron Ore Project

China's long-term ambition to reduce its dependence on Australian iron ore suffered a major setback late last week when Guinea's ruling junta ordered the immediate suspension of all activities at the massive Simandou mine. Interim President Mamady ...

Veteran China Journalist Warns That China is Looking to Eventually Replace Australian Iron Ore With Suppliers in Brazil and Africa

There's been widespread speculation over the past year that China wants to develop new iron ore supply chains in Africa so it can stop buying from Australia in response to steadily worsening ties between the two countries. While there've been indications ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

The G20 Summit and the Half-Life of a Joke

When it was announced in 2023 that the African Union would become a full member of the G20, I darkly joked on a podcast that the AU’s entry into the body could very well mark the moment the G20 lost its status as one of the most important global coordination forums. Mark my words, I said, soon The Economist will be like “Uhhh, the G20 is OVER – it’s the ...

Analyst: China Will Diversify Iron Ore Buys From Australia, Brazil To Guinea in West Africa

Peter O’Connor, a senior analyst of metals and mining at the Australian investment firm Shaw and Partners, said out loud on CNBC what many people have been quietly thinking: that the natural progression of China's steadily deteriorating ties with Australia will prompt Beijing to end its dependence ...

Rapidly Deteriorating China-Australia Ties Provides a Sobering Lesson For African Countries

There's an old Chinese idiom that says "kill a chicken to scare the monkey" (殺雞儆猴). According to the folktale, there was a street performer who made a lot of money from a dancing monkey. One day, that monkey, however, didn't want to perform. The owner became very ...