The Winning Youth cargo ship arrived at Majishan port in Zhejiang province on Jan 17, 2026, carrying with it nearly 200,000 tons of iron ore produced in Guinea, West Africa. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The Winning Youth cargo ship arrived at Majishan port in Zhejiang province on Saturday, carrying with it nearly 200,000 tons of iron ore produced in Guinea, West Africa, according to China Baowu Steel Group Corp Ltd.
The ship departed from the Port of Morebaya in Guinea and successfully docked at Majishan port after a 46-day, 10,958-nautical-mile journey. The delivery marked a key milestone in the global steel industry, said China Baowu.
The Winning Youth cargo ship arrived at Majishan port in Zhejiang province on Jan 17, 2026, carrying with it nearly 200,000 tons of iron ore produced in Guinea, West Africa. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The completion of this voyage marks the full operational status of the Simandou iron ore project, an integrated supply chain that spans mining, railways, ports (both domestic and international), and shipping. As a new and significant source of global iron ore supply, the project is expected to greatly enhance global iron ore production capacity, which is of immense importance Chinese steel manufacturers in need of raw materials.
Once fully operational, the project is expected to produce 120 million tons of high-quality iron ore annually. The Simandou iron ore project — whose production officially began in November 2025 — is one of the world’s largest and highest-grade deposits.
The Winning Youth cargo ship arrived at Majishan port in Zhejiang province on Jan 17, 2026, carrying with it nearly 200,000 tons of iron ore produced in Guinea, West Africa. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The project, with an investment exceeding $20 billion, involves the development of a mine, railway, and port infrastructure. It is divided into northern and southern blocks, with construction of the northern section having begun in June 2024.
With the project now entering stable operations and gradually ramping up to full capacity, it is expected to provide a solid and sustainable raw material base for the steel industry in China and around the world. Additionally, it will serve as a long-term driver for Guinea’s economic and social development.
According to Baowu Resources Co Ltd, the second shipment of Simandou iron ore was dispatched to China at the end of last year. Baowu Resources aims to leverage the Simandou iron ore as a leading source and contribute to the creation of greater value for its steel industry and ecological partners.
