• Kamoa-Kakula revenue rose 5% to $3.28 billion in 2025.
• Copper output fell to 388,841 tons after seismic disruption.
• Higher prices offset lower volumes; 2026 sales seen rising.

Kamoa-Kakula, the largest copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, generated $3.28 billion in revenue in 2025, up 5% from $3.11 billion in 2024, its Canadian operator Ivanhoe Mines said on February 18. The result came in a challenging year marked by lower copper sales volumes at the site.

Production declined to 388,841 tons in 2025 from 437,061 tons a year earlier. Sales volumes also fell 11% over the period. The slowdown followed a downward revision of guidance after a seismic event in May 2025 disrupted operations. Despite those operational challenges, the project benefited from a favorable global market, with copper prices rising more than 20% over the year.

Ivanhoe did not provide a detailed breakdown of the revenue increase but reported an average realized price of $4.40 per pound (about $9,700 per ton) in 2025, compared with $4.09 per pound a year earlier. The company expects to sell about 30,000 additional tons in 2026 through the commercialization of unsold inventory. Although 2026 has started strongly, copper prices remain volatile and declined during Thursday’s trading session, according to Trading Economics.

Market trends and operating performance at Kamoa-Kakula will shape revenue prospects for 2026. Ivanhoe is targeting maximum production of 420,000 tons this year. The company, led by Canadian-American billionaire Robert Friedland, holds a 39.6% stake in the project, equal to China’s Zijin Mining, while the Congolese state controls 20%.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou