Zimbabwe will resume lithium concentrate exports under stringent new regulations that require mining companies to commit to domestic processing, in a policy shift aimed at capturing greater value from its critical mineral resources. The measures, announced this week, follow a suspension of exports in February 2026 and apply to all producers operating in the country, Africa’s largest lithium supplier, as reported by Reuters.
Under the new framework, companies must present plans to establish lithium sulphate processing plants by January 1, 2027, while export quotas will be introduced to regulate shipments. Authorities have also retained a 10 percent export tax during the transition period, with a full ban on unprocessed lithium concentrate exports set to take effect in 2027, according to official statements. Additional requirements include publishing annual financial reports and meeting labour, safety, and environmental standards.
The policy directly targets major operators in Zimbabwe’s lithium sector, including Chinese-backed firms such as Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine, which have historically exported large volumes of concentrate to China. Figures show Zimbabwe exported about 1.128 million metric tons of spodumene concentrate in 2025, accounting for roughly 15 percent of China’s imports, highlighting the country’s strategic role in the global battery supply chain.
Business Insider Africa says the move is designed to accelerate industrialisation, boost local value addition, and increase foreign exchange earnings, as global demand for lithium continues to rise amid electric vehicle growth. The tightening of export rules underscores a broader trend of resource nationalism across Africa, positioning Zimbabwe to extract more economic benefit from its mineral wealth while reshaping supply dynamics in the global energy transition market.
