This information was relayed by the country’s mines ministry on Wednesday via a statement seen by Reuters, which notifies the immediate and indefinite suspension of the exportation of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates.
“Government expects cooperation of the mining industry on this measure, which has been taken in the national interest,” the statement said.
At the time, the country’s Mines Minister Winston Chitando noted that such a decision would only serve to boost local value addition in the mining sector.
“With effect from January 2027, the export of lithium concentrates will no longer be allowed,” the minister said to reporters in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
Currently, as related to the exportation ban, Zimbabwe gave a similar rationale, stating, “Government remains committed to … in-country value addition and beneficiation, compliance, and accountability in the exportation of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources.”
The mines ministry revealed that it will realign export procedures because of “continued malpractices during the exportation of minerals” in the letter, obtained by Reuters on Wednesday, that was issued to Zimbabwe’s Chamber of Mines.
“This review is part of a broader effort to curb leakages and enhance efficiency within our systems,” the ministry wrote.
Zimbabwe’s latest economic gain
Zimbabwe’s dollar inflation rate (ZiG) fell to 4.1% in January, down from 15% in December and 19% in November 2025.
Analysts attribute the drop to tougher monetary policies, improved supply chain conditions, and relative stability in foreign exchange markets.
The ZiG, which is partially backed by gold, has stayed steady in official markets with a parallel-market premium of roughly 20%.
Due to persistently high prices, gold production is also anticipated to exceed the record 38.4 tons attained in 2024.
Earlier in January 2026, Caledonia Mining Corporation disclosed plans to spend about $132 million during the course of the year to kick-start development of what is expected to become Zimbabwe’s largest gold mine.
The investment is part of a larger $162.5 million capital spending plan for 2026, subject to board approval and finance availability, according to Reuters.
The company intends to begin production in late 2028, scaling up to a steady-state output of roughly 200,000 ounces per year from 2029 for at least a decade.
In 2024, the Southern African nation emerged as the continent’s leading lithium producer.
Zimbabwe reported sales of 586,197 metric tons of lithium spodumene concentrate during the first half of 2025, representing a substantial 30% increase from the 451,824 metric tons sold in the corresponding period of 2024.
This increased output occurred concurrently with a significant global downturn in the mineral’s price, which plummeted by 90 percent, from a peak of over US$80,000 per ton in 2022 to US$8,450 per ton by June 2025.
In the year ending December 2025, Zimbabwe exported 1.128 million metric tons of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate.
By 2030, production is projected to reach 160,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, a volume significantly surpassing that of other regional producers.
