Zimbabwe has suspended exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates with immediate effect, weeks after warning miners that it would take action to curb leakages and “malpractices” during exports.
In a statement Wednesday, Mines Minister Polite Kambamura said the suspension is in the “national interest” and applies even to minerals already in transit.
“Government expects cooperation of the mining industry on this measure which has been taken in the national interest,” the statement said. “Government remains committed to … in-country value addition and beneficiation, compliance, and accountability in the exportation of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources,” it added.
Under the new rules, only mining companies holding valid title and approved beneficiation plants will be allowed to export. Agents and third-party traders are barred from acting on behalf of miners. Export permit applications must now include a recommendation letter from the relevant Provincial Mining Office, details of beneficiation capacity, compliance status, and the mineral composition of the consignment.
The ban comes after an earlier letter to miners, on February 17, in which the Ministry warned it would take action to fix what it called “malpractices within the mining industry during the exportation of minerals”. It warned that the action needed would bring temporary disruption to exports.
“In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has resolved to realign export processes and frameworks for all minerals and beneficiated mineral exports and put in place frameworks to effectively curb malpractices in mineral exports. This review is part of a broader effort to curb leakages and enhance efficiency within our systems,” the Ministry wrote then.
In that letter, the government said the “mining industry may experience temporary delays in the processing and issuance of export permits as relevant government departments realign their processes.” Now, the suspension of export has been effected, hitting lithium producers at a critical moment.
Lithium beneficiation race
Back in 2022, government banned exports of raw, unprocessed lithium. But miners were already up the value chain, processing ore into spodumene concentrates. Last year, authorities went further, announcing that lithium concentrates would be banned in 2027, giving miners time to invest in lithium sulphate plants. Lithium sulphate is an intermediate product that can be refined into battery-grade lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate, the materials used in battery manufacturing. Government charges a 10% tax on lithium concentrates to force miners to upgrade to sulphates.
Two of the country’s biggest lithium operations are already racing in that direction. Bikita Minerals, owned by Sinomine, and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt’s Prospect Lithium are developing lithium sulphate facilities. Huayou expects its US$400 million lithium sulphate plant to start running this year.
Lithium is a growing earner for Zimbabwe, although earnings have been hit by low prices. Lithium export volumes rose 11% in 2025, reaching 1.128 million metric tonnes, up from 1.014 million tonnes in 2024. But weaker global prices kept earnings flat at US$513.8 million, slightly below the previous year’s US$514.5 million. Prices have rebounded above US$2,000 a tonne in 2026 from four-year lows near US$610 in mid-2025, but remain well below 2022 peaks above US$6,000. – (NewZWire)
