Zimbabwe, Africa’s largest lithium producer, generated $782 million from lithium exports in the first six months of 2026, more than tripling the $237 million recorded during the same period last year, highlighting the country’s growing role in the global battery metals supply chain as it pushes to process more of the mineral domestically.
Mthuli Ncube, the country’s finance minister, announced the figures during this year’s Mid-Year Budget Review, highlighting lithium’s emergence as one of the Southern African nation’s fastest-growing mineral exports.
The surge comes as the government accelerates efforts to move the country beyond exporting raw minerals. In February, Zimbabwe suspended exports of lithium concentrates and other raw lithium products before introducing a quota and compliance system in April. Authorities still plan to prohibit concentrate exports entirely from January 2027, requiring miners to process more lithium locally before shipping it abroad.
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