• 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.
• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...
• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo...
• Investors seem to keep focusing on yields, which are high for the moment• New Leadership might see...
• Kenyan President William Ruto signs strategic partnership with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to b...
• IFC teams up with AfDB and Nigeria’s EbonyLife to assess a new fund for African cinema• Sector cou...
• Nigerian Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited debuts vessel aimed to service the cabotage market in the country, and potentially beyond. • The move...
• Kamoa-Kakula, DRC's largest copper mine, boosts production by 31% to 245,127 tonnes in H1 2025, despite a temporary halt in operations in...
• The IMF has approved an immediate disbursement of $367 million to Ghana, bringing the total financial support provided to the country since May...
Chinese firm Dowstone Technology to invest $165 million in a new copper smelter in the DRC. China imported 36% of its copper from the DRC in...
Located about 40 kilometers from Cape Town’s city center, Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is one of the Cape Peninsula’s most iconic destinations. This...
The Gerewol tradition is a fascinating ritual celebrated by the Bororo Fulani, a nomadic community primarily located in Chad and Niger. This annual...