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Zambia

Open in the explorerOrganisations (12)Events

Production, refining and reserves

CommodityMetricValueWorld rank · shareSource
CobaltMine production 2023207 t Co content#20 · 0.1%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (cobalt), table 7
CobaltRefinery production 2020100 t Co content (refined)#13 · 0.1%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (cobalt), table 8
CobaltReserves 2017270,000 t Co content#5 · 4%USGS MCS 2018
CopperMine production 2025940,000 t Cu content#7 · 4%USGS MCS 2026
CopperRefinery production 2025270,000 t Cu content#17 · 0.9%USGS MCS 2026
CopperReserves 202521 million t Cu content#11 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
NickelMine production 20237,980 t Ni content#21 · 0.2%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (nickel, tables-only release), table 10
ManganeseMine production 2023171,000 t manganese ore (gross weight)#18 · 0.3%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (manganese), table 6
UraniumResources 202323,000 t U content#27 · 0.3%NEA/IAEA Red Book 2024 (Uranium 2024), Table 1.2a, <USD 260/kgU

Policies and export measures

Policy tracker →

  • 2024-12-26 · trade measure

    Minerals Regulation Commission Act, 2024 (replacing the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2015)

    Creates a Minerals Regulation Commission, requires a permit for every mineral import or export, and lets the government reserve areas for mining rights granted to a state investment company. Royalties are set at 8% of norm value for cobalt and vanadium and on a sliding 4–10% scale for copper depending on the copper price.

    Source: National Assembly of Zambia (Government Printer)

  • 2023-10-26 · agreement

    EU–Zambia strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains

    Signed on 26 October 2023 (signature date) by the Commissioner for International Partnerships and Zambia's Minister of Finance, at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels.

    Source: European Commission

  • 2023-08-11 · agreement

    Japan–Zambia Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Mining Sector

    Japan's trade minister and Zambia's mines minister agreed four principles: securing critical minerals while reducing concentration risks, building responsible and market-based supply chains, developing joint projects step by step, and cooperating on skills and infrastructure. JOGMEC signed an updated exploration MoU with the Zambian ministry at the same time, with proposals on nickel, cobalt and copper exploration.

    Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan

Trade in critical minerals

Exports 2024$11 bn

  1. Copper$9.8 bnto Switzerland 47%, China 24%, India 17% · 33 more
  2. Nickel$723 mto Canada 35%, Namibia 33%, China 14% · 5 more
  3. Manganese$154 mto Italy 19%, South Africa 16%, China 13% · 46 more
  4. Cobalt*$84 mto South Africa 95%, Namibia 2%, China 1% · 7 more
  5. Zinc$79 mto Tanzania 41%, China 39%, United Arab Emirates 7% · 10 more
  6. Fluorspar$15 mto China 61%, Indonesia 22%, Ukraine 12% · 5 more
  7. Aluminium$11 mto India 47%, China 25%, United Arab Emirates 21% · 4 more
  8. Silicon$6 mto Italy 58%, South Africa 23%, Slovakia 7% · 7 more

and 15 more commodities

Imports 2024$357 m

  1. Copper$150 mfrom Dem. Rep. Congo 99%, Canada 1%, South Africa 0% · 13 more
  2. Zinc$98 mfrom Dem. Rep. Congo 100%, South Korea 0%, Tanzania 0% · 2 more
  3. Cobalt$67 mfrom Dem. Rep. Congo 100%, South Africa 0%, Namibia 0%
  4. Potash$32 mfrom China 26%, Namibia 23%, Russia 19% · 9 more
  5. Chromium$4 mfrom Zimbabwe 83%, South Africa 17%, India 0%
  6. Zirconium (zircon)$2 mfrom Hong Kong 43%, China 37%, South Africa 20%
  7. Alumina$1 mfrom China 99%, Belgium 1%, South Africa 0% · 2 more
  8. Barite$710 kfrom China 77%, South Africa 23%

and 23 more commodities

Trade values in current US dollars (ores, concentrates, intermediates, chemicals and refined metal), not prices. * Includes HS codes that also cover other products. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22), Etalab Open Licence 2.0 — details.

Fiscal regime for mining

InstrumentApplies toRateLegal basis
RoyaltyCopperIncremental (marginal) by norm price band: 4% of norm value on the part of the price below USD 4,000/t; 6.5% from USD 4,000 to <5,000; 8.5% from USD 5,000 to <7,000; 10% at USD 7,000/t and above4-10 sliding scalenorm value: monthly average LME cash price (or Fastmarkets MB / other approved exchange) x quantity of metal or recoverable metal soldMinerals Regulation Commission Act, 2024 (Act No. 14 of 2024) · s. 68(2), 68(7)in force 2025-06-13
RoyaltyCobalt, Vanadium8%norm value: monthly average LME cash price (or Fastmarkets MB / other approved exchange) x quantity of metal or recoverable metal soldMinerals Regulation Commission Act, 2024 (Act No. 14 of 2024) · s. 68(3)in force 2025-06-13
RoyaltyNickel, Zinc, Lead, Tin, Manganese, Chromium, Iron ore, Aluminium, Titanium spongeBase metals other than copper, cobalt and vanadium (ZRA lists iron, copper, nickel, aluminium, lead, zinc, tin, magnesium, cobalt, manganese, titanium, scandium, vanadium, chromium as base metals)5%norm value: monthly average LME cash price (or Fastmarkets MB / other approved exchange) x quantity of metal or recoverable metal soldMinerals Regulation Commission Act, 2024 (Act No. 14 of 2024) · s. 68(1)(a)in force 2025-06-13
RoyaltyGold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium, SeleniumPrecious metals (ZRA definition: gold, platinum, silver, palladium, selenium)6%norm value: monthly average LME cash price (or Fastmarkets MB / other approved exchange) x quantity of metal or recoverable metal soldMinerals Regulation Commission Act, 2024 (Act No. 14 of 2024) · s. 68(1)(d)in force 2025-06-13
RoyaltyDiamond (industrial), Garnet (industrial)Gemstones (amethyst, aquamarine, beryl, emerald, garnet, diamond etc.)6%gross value: realised FOB price at point of export or point of delivery in ZambiaMinerals Regulation Commission Act, 2024 (Act No. 14 of 2024) · s. 68(1)(c)in force 2025-06-13
RoyaltyUranium, Fluorspar, Barite, Graphite (natural), Gypsum, Feldspar, Kyanite and related minerals, Magnesite, Talc and pyrophyllite, Phosphate rock, Salt, Mica (scrap and flake), LimeEnergy and industrial minerals5%gross value: realised FOB price at point of export or point of delivery in ZambiaMinerals Regulation Commission Act, 2024 (Act No. 14 of 2024) · s. 68(1)(b)in force 2025-06-13
Export dutyCopper, Cobalt, Nickel, Lead, Tin, Chromium, Tungsten, Uranium, Thorium, Molybdenum, Titanium (ilmenite), Titanium (rutile), Zirconium (zircon), Silver, Antimony, Bauxite, Iron oreOres and concentrates, HS 2601, 2603-2607, 2609-2617; zinc ores 10% but zinc concentrates (2608.00.21/29) free10%customs (FOB) valueCustoms and Excise Act (Cap. 322), Ninth Schedule - Export Tariff (ZRA Customs Tariff Book, last updated January 2026) · Ninth Schedule, HS 26.01-26.17in force 2026-01-01
Export dutyManganeseManganese ores and concentrates, HS 2602.00.0015%customs (FOB) valueCustoms and Excise Act (Cap. 322), Ninth Schedule - Export Tariff (ZRA Customs Tariff Book, last updated January 2026) · Ninth Schedule, HS 26.02in force 2026-01-01
Export dutyGold, Silver, Platinum, Diamond (industrial)Unwrought precious metals (HS 7106, 7108, 7110) and diamonds/precious stones (HS 7102-7103)15%customs (FOB) valueCustoms and Excise Act (Cap. 322), Ninth Schedule - Export Tariff (ZRA Customs Tariff Book, last updated January 2026) · Ninth Schedule, HS 71.02-71.12in force 2026-01-01
Corporate income tax (mining)All mineralsCompany income tax rate for mining and for mineral processing (ZRA table of 'other income tax rates'); manufacturing of products using copper cathodes 15%; dividends paid by mining companies 0% withholding30%taxable income from mining operationsIncome Tax Act, Chapter 323, Charging Schedule (as amended to 2024), per ZRA Practice Note No. 1/2024 · Charging Schedulein force 2024-01-01

Rates and terms as set in the cited law or regulation; agreements with individual projects can differ. Not legal or tax advice.

Deals and financing (5)

  1. 2025-08-05 · Stream · completed · US$1,000 m

    Royal Gold (RGLD Gold AG) → First Quantum Minerals (Kansanshi Mining) · Kansanshi copper-gold mine

    Royal Gold paid USD 1 billion upfront for a gold stream referenced to copper output from First Quantum's Kansanshi mine in Zambia, receiving 75 oz of gold per million lb of copper initially at 20% of spot.

    official release

  2. 2025-04-15 · Equity investment · signed · AUD 15.2

    First Quantum Minerals → Prospect Resources · Mumbezhi copper project

    First Quantum agreed a AUD 15.2 million placement for 15% of Prospect Resources and to act as technical partner on the Mumbezhi copper project in Zambia's Northwestern Copperbelt.

    official release

  3. 2024-04-09 · Acquisition · completed · US$5.5 m

    Prospect Resources → Global Development Cooperation Consulting Zambia Ltd · Mumbezhi copper-cobalt project

    Prospect Resources agreed to acquire 85% of the Mumbezhi copper-cobalt project on Zambia's Copperbelt for about USD 5.5 million cash plus USD 1 million in shares; completed May 2024.

    official release

  4. 2024-03-14 · Acquisition · signed · US$58.5 m

    African Minerals Limited (Sinomine Resource Group) → Momentum Ventures Limited; Chifupu Resources Limited · Kitumba copper project

    Sinomine agreed to buy 65% of Junction Mining, owner of the Kitumba copper project in Zambia (27.9 Mt at 2.20% Cu), for a base consideration of USD 58.5 million.

    official release

  5. 2023-11-10 · Acquisition · completed · US$1,100 m

    International Resources Holding (Delta Mining) → ZCCM Investments Holdings · Mopani Copper Mines

    Abu Dhabi's International Resources Holding took 51% of Mopani Copper Mines from ZCCM-IH, committing up to USD 1.1 billion in new equity, letter-of-credit settlement and shareholder loans; completion was announced in March 2024.

    official release

Mines and facilities (23)

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