• Zimbabwe plans lithium export quotas, local processing requirements

• Miners must meet standards, commit to building processing plants

• Policy aims to boost value addition amid global lithium surplus

More than a month after suspending lithium concentrate exports, Zimbabwe is preparing to regulate the resumption of trade. On Wednesday, April 8, Reuters reported that Harare plans to introduce export quotas and require miners to commit to local processing of the raw material, of which the country is Africa’s top producer.

Citing a government letter sent earlier this month to the Chamber of Mines, Reuters outlined several conditions for lithium producers operating in Zimbabwe. Companies must publish annual financial statements for their mines and comply with labour, safety and environmental standards. Each operator will also be assigned approved export quotas for lithium concentrate.

Ahead of a planned ban on concentrate exports in January 2027, operators will be required to formalise written commitments, including detailed timelines for building lithium sulphate plants. Until then, a 10% export tax will remain in place once the current embargo is lifted and until the ban takes effect.

Tightening control over a strategic market

Through these measures, Zimbabwe aims to strengthen control over a strategic resource essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems. The move comes amid a global surplus, largely driven by China, which has pressured prices since 2023. The focus on local processing reflects a push to move up the value chain, shifting from a raw concentrate exporter to a supplier of higher-value products such as lithium sulphate.

This move reflects a broader regional trend. In 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo adopted a similar approach to cobalt, another critical mineral for which it accounts for nearly 70% of global supply. Faced with oversupply and falling prices, authorities first imposed an export ban before lifting it and introducing quotas to manage volumes and channel part of production into local processing. Guinea, the world’s leading bauxite exporter, offers another example, as authorities seek to curb exports to support weakening prices.

It remains unclear how Zimbabwe’s proposed reforms will be received by producers, particularly export quotas. On local processing, however, some progress is already underway. China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt is preparing to commission a lithium sulphate plant at the Arcadia mine, while Sinomine Resource and Sichuan Yahua Industrial have announced construction of their own facilities.

Lithium is one of Zimbabwe’s main mineral exports, alongside platinum group metals (PGMs), gold and diamonds. In 2025, the sector generated $571 million in export earnings. Mining accounts for around 80% of the country’s exports and 19% of government revenue.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou