HARARE: Zimbabwe has suspended the export of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates with immediate effect, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development said, ordering the restriction to be observed “until further notice.” The ministry said the suspension applies to all minerals, including shipments already in transit. Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said the government expects cooperation from the mining industry and described the measure as being taken in the national interest.
The ministry said the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe and other regulators have been instructed to enforce the suspension without exception. It said the government remains committed to transparency, compliance and accountability in the exportation of the country’s mineral resources, and reiterated its position on in-country value addition and beneficiation. The ministry also said export permissions for minerals outside the suspension would be limited to mining companies holding valid mining titles and approved beneficiation plants.
In correspondence sent to the Chamber of Mines on Feb. 17, the ministry said it would realign export processes after raising concerns about continued malpractices during the exportation of minerals. The ministry said the review formed part of a broader effort to curb export leakages and strengthen efficiency in the system. The export suspension announced on Feb. 25 expanded that enforcement step, with the ministry stating that the restriction covers all raw mineral exports and lithium concentrates.
Lithium exports and processing push
Zimbabwe is Africa’s largest producer of lithium, a key input for rechargeable batteries, and has become a major supplier of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate to foreign refineries. Official data cited by the government showed exports of spodumene concentrate rose 11% in 2025 to 1.128 million metric tons, from 1.014 million tons a year earlier. Export receipts were broadly flat at about $513.8 million in 2025 compared with $514.5 million in 2024, reflecting lower prices over much of the year.
The country had previously tightened controls on lithium exports, including a ban on exports of raw lithium ore introduced in 2022, and had said it planned to halt exports of lithium concentrates from January 2027. Mining firms, many backed by Chinese capital, have been developing local processing capacity in response to beneficiation requirements. Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt has built a $400 million facility to process spodumene into lithium sulphate, and Sinomine has announced plans for a $500 million lithium sulphate plant at Bikita.
Market reaction and enforcement scope
The announcement reverberated in commodity markets, with lithium prices in China rising on Feb. 26 after the export suspension was made public. The most-traded lithium carbonate contract on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange climbed 6.07% to 178,020 yuan per metric ton, after reaching an intraday high of 187,700 yuan. Traders tracked the development closely because Zimbabwe has become a meaningful source of imported spodumene concentrate for Chinese processors.
Zimbabwe’s mining sector spans gold, platinum group metals, chrome and coal, alongside lithium, and exports remain a central source of foreign currency. The ministry said the suspension is in force immediately, including for cargoes already in transit, and it directed regulators and marketing authorities to apply the restriction. In its statement, the ministry said it will engage the industry on new expectations and the way forward, and called on mining companies to cooperate with the suspension. – By Content Syndication Services.