Zimbabwe’s Lithium Exports Value Skyrocketed in 1H26
On 30 July 2026, Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube released key statistics during the Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament. #Lithium exports skyrocketed by 230% to reach USD 782 million for 1H26. In comparison, lithium exports totaled USD 571 million during the whole year of 2025. In terms of tonnage, the weight only rose by 7%, compared to 1H25. The volume reached 240,826 tonnes in 1Q26, while it stood at 224,610 in 1Q25.
Minister Ncube attributed the resounding success to the enlightened policy of the Government to graduate from a raw mineral extractor to a higher level up the global value chain. It is to be recalled that in February 2026, the Government of Zimbabwe froze all raw mineral exports in order to plug loopholes, and allowed shipments under stricter control.
Miners were encouraged to process the lithium ore locally, since another ban on raw minerals and concentrate will take effect as from January 2027. Thus, Zhejiang Huayou started producing lithium sulfate, which has a higher value than lithium ore.
Due to the export ban on ores, miners have accumulated massive stockpiles at mining sites. In particular, it is estimated that the miners produced 2.2 million tonnes of raw minerals, but only managed to export 1.1 million tonnes. Now, these ores are being redirected to the processing plants for local value addition (#LVA).
Lithium mining is basically monopolized by Chinese companies such as Zhejiang Huayou, Sinomine, Chengxin, Sichuan Yahua, and Tsingshan. Other than Zhejiang Huayou (Arcadia) — whose lithium sulfate plant is already operational — Sichuan Yahua (Kamativi), Sinomine (Bikita), and Tsingshan (Sandawana) are all in the process of building theirs.
As one of the key #CriticalMinerals for the green future, lithium now contributes roughly 12% to Zimbabwe’s total mining exports. Now, Zimbabwe’s lithium output accounts for nearly 10% of the global production. The Government of Zimbabwe would like to enhance local beneficiation to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.