• Zimbabwe will halt lithium concentrate exports in 2027 to boost local processing
• Chinese firms are building two lithium sulfate plants to support this shift
• Value-added products like lithium carbonate bring far higher export earnings

Zimbabwe, the top lithium producer in Africa with 2.4 million tons of concentrate in 2024, plans to stop exporting lithium concentrate from January 2027. The goal is to develop a local processing industry that can capture more value from the mineral.

Mining Minister Winston Chitando announced the decision on Tuesday, June 10. He said the move aligns with ongoing lithium sulfate plant projects, particularly those led by Chinese companies Sinomine and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. These firms are building processing plants at the Bikita and Arcadia mines.

Lithium sulfate is made by refining lithium concentrate and is used to produce high-value battery-grade chemicals like lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. Chitando said that with processing capacity being added, Zimbabwe will no longer allow exports of unprocessed concentrate starting in 2027.

"Because of that capacity which is now in the country, the export of all lithium concentrates will be banned from January 2027," he stated.

The government initially invited all mining firms to submit plans to build their own sulfate plants. That option remains open, but Chitando also encouraged firms to secure processing agreements with companies that will own these new plants.

This step is aimed at maximizing revenues from Zimbabwe’s lithium reserves by shifting exports toward value-added products. For example, battery-grade lithium carbonate sells for about $7,000 per ton on the Shanghai Metals Market, compared to just $570 per ton for Zimbabwe’s raw lithium concentrate.

The announcement comes shortly after mining companies requested the government to delay implementing a 5% tax on concentrate exports. They argued the tax should only apply once the new plants are fully built and operational by 2027. The government has not yet responded to that request.