United States industrial buyers are increasingly turning to copper from the Democratic Republic of Congo, driving record shipments from the African producer as manufacturers become more comfortable with its quality and pricing, as reported by CNBC Africa. Congolese copper cathode deliveries to the US reached a record 53,290 metric tons in July 2026, giving the DRC a 23.9% share of total American copper imports, which exceeded 220,000 tons for the first time. The figure marks a dramatic increase from the fewer than 32,000 tons the US imported from Congo throughout 2024.
The shift is being driven largely by price. Congolese copper is not currently approved for delivery on the US COMEX exchange, unlike selected brands from Zambia and major producers such as Chile and Peru, but American copper rod mills and tube manufacturers are increasingly buying it directly. Industry sources cited by Reuters said Congolese material can trade at discounts of about $550 to $800 per ton, while improvements in production quality have helped overcome earlier concerns among US consumers.
The growing US market is also reshaping Congo’s export dynamics as the country expands its role in global copper supply. China remains the DRC’s largest copper customer, but Chinese imports of Congolese copper fell 4.3% during the first seven months of 2026, with Congo accounting for 39.4% of China’s copper imports in July. The stronger US demand therefore gives Congolese producers an increasingly important alternative market as Washington seeks to strengthen access to critical minerals and diversify supply chains.
For the DRC, the development represents more than a short term export opportunity. Greater acceptance among US industrial consumers could strengthen the country’s position in a strategically important global copper market while supporting wider efforts to attract American investment into its mining sector. As demand for copper rises across power infrastructure, manufacturing, electrification and clean energy technologies, Congo’s ability to deliver competitively priced material to new markets could become an increasingly important advantage in the global race for critical minerals.
