Production, refining and reserves
| Commodity | Metric | Value | World rank · share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt | Mine production 2023 | 336 t Co content | #17 · 0.1% | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (cobalt), table 7 |
| Lithium | Mine production 2025 | 28,000 t Li content | #4 · 10% | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Lithium | Reserves 2025 | 500,000 t Li content | #8 · 1% | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Copper | Mine production 2022 | 10,168 t Cu content | #40 · 0% | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2022 (copper), table 20 |
| Nickel | Mine production 2023 | 16,309 t Ni content | #19 · 0.4% | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (nickel, tables-only release), table 10 |
| Nickel | Reserves 2008 | 15,000 t Ni content | #16 · 0% | USGS MCS 2009 |
| Graphite (natural) | Mine production 2019 | 2,000 t natural graphite | — | USGS MCS 2020 |
| Chromium | Mine production 2025 | 2 million t gross weight (chromite ore) | #6 · 4% | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Chromium | Reserves 2025 | 140 million t gross weight (chromite ore) | #3 · 12% | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Platinum | Mine production 2025 | 18,000 kg Pt content | #3 · 11% | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Palladium | Mine production 2025 | 15,000 kg Pd content | #4 · 8% | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Tantalum | Mine production 2006 | 0.2 t Ta content | — | USGS MCS 2007 |
| Uranium | Resources 2023 | 2,000 t U content | #56 · 0% | NEA/IAEA Red Book 2024 (Uranium 2024), Table 1.2a, <USD 260/kgU |
| Cesium | Reserves 2019 | 60,000 t Cs2O | #2 · 27% | USGS MCS 2020 |
| Rubidium | Reserves 2019 | 30,000 t Rb2O | #2 · 30% | USGS MCS 2020 |
| Platinum-group metals | Reserves 2025 | 1.3 million kg PGM content | #3 · 2% | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Asbestos | Mine production 2021 | 10,000 t asbestos | #5 · 0.8% | USGS MCS 2023 |
| Diamond (industrial) | Mine production 2025 | 5 million carats | #4 · 13% | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Diamond (industrial) | Reserves 2025 | 56 million carats | #6 · 3% | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Kyanite and related minerals | Mine production 2003 | 4,000 t kyanite and related minerals | #5 · 1% | USGS MCS 2005 |
| Vermiculite | Mine production 2025 | 30,000 t vermiculite | #6 · 7% | USGS MCS 2026 |
Policies and export measures
Policy tracker →2026-02-25 · ban
Suspension of exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates (February 2026)
The government suspended exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates with immediate effect and until further notice, including shipments in transit, and told ZIMRA and the Minerals Marketing Corporation to enforce it. For other minerals, only holders of valid mining titles with approved beneficiation plants may export; agents and third-party traders are excluded.
Source: Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Zimbabwe (archived copy, Internet Archive)2023-05-08 · export control
Lithium export permit conditions and processing-plant requirements (SI 57 of 2023)
Amends the 2023 ore-export order to define beneficiated lithium concentrate (at least 3% lithia for spodumene, 2.5% for petalite and lepidolite). Concentrate export permits require compliance with schedule conditions and a price no lower than that set by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe; unbeneficiated lithium may be exported only by wholly Zimbabwean-owned exporters building a processing plant, with presidential concurrence.
Source: Government of Zimbabwe, Minister of Mines and Mining Development (Government Gazette Extraordinary; copy distributed by Veritas Zimbabwe)2023-01-06 · ban
Ban on exports of unbeneficiated base mineral ores (SI 5 of 2023)
Issued under the Base Minerals Export Control Act with immediate effect, the order bars the export of any base mineral ore not processed in Zimbabwe, except under a ministerial permit where the ore cannot be beneficiated locally or for assay samples. It replaced the 2022 order that covered only lithium-bearing ores.
Source: Government of Zimbabwe, Minister of Mines and Mining Development (Government Gazette Extraordinary; copy distributed by Veritas Zimbabwe)2022-12-16 · ban
Ban on exports of lithium-bearing ores and unbeneficiated lithium (SI 213 of 2022)
Issued under the Base Minerals Export Control Act with immediate effect (gazetted 16 December 2022). Lithium-bearing ores and unbeneficiated lithium may not be exported without the Minister's written permit. Permits are limited to assay samples or exceptional cases where the material has been valued for export tax.
Source: Government of Zimbabwe, Minister of Mines and Mining Development (Government Gazette; copy distributed by Veritas Zimbabwe)
Trade in critical minerals
Exports 2024$2.4 bn
- Nickel$989 mto South Africa 100%, China 0%, Hong Kong 0% · 3 more
- Lithium*$831 mto China 95%, United Arab Emirates 4%, Mozambique 1% · 13 more
- Chromium$534 mto China 43%, Mozambique 18%, South Africa 11% · 31 more
- Platinum$6 mto South Africa 100%
- Aluminium$3 mto Mozambique 47%, China 41%, South Africa 12% · 1 more
- Copper$3 mto China 62%, Mozambique 18%, South Africa 9% · 2 more
- Tungsten$2 mto China 100%
- Tantalum*$1 mto China 100%
and 7 more commodities
Imports 2024$34 m
- Potash$19 mfrom Russia 51%, South Africa 31%, United Arab Emirates 17% · 4 more
- Copper$5 mfrom Zambia 100%, China 0%, South Africa 0%
- Manganese*$3 mfrom Zambia 89%, South Africa 10%, China 1%
- Boron*$1 mfrom Mauritius 30%, South Africa 28%, Bolivia 14% · 5 more
- Lithium*$1 mfrom South Africa 55%, China 41%, United Arab Emirates 4% · 2 more
- Silicon$1 mfrom China 80%, South Africa 18%, Zambia 1%
- Aluminium$752 kfrom Hong Kong 92%, South Africa 2%, Mozambique 2% · 3 more
- Bauxite$640 kfrom Mozambique 100%, South Africa 0%
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
| Instrument | Applies to | Rate | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | GoldGold produced by 'other miners' (i.e. not small-scale): 3% when sold at US$1,200/oz; 5% above US$1,200 and below US$5,000/oz; 10% above US$5,000/oz. Whole-value (step) rates, not incremental | 3-10 sliding scalegross fair market value as determined by Fidelity Gold Refinery | Finance Act, 2025 (Act No. 7 of 2025), gazetted 29 Dec 2025 amending the Schedule to Chapter VII of the Finance Act [Chapter 23:04] (rates of royalties for s. 36O Income Tax Act) · s. 61in force 2026-01-01 |
| Export duty | LithiumExports of lithium ore and of lithium concentrate: 10%; lithium sulphate: 0%. Collected as VAT on export of unbeneficiated lithium | 10%gross fair market value of realisable lithium sulphate | Finance Act, 2025 (Act No. 7 of 2025), gazetted 29 Dec 2025 amending s. 12B of the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12] · s. 39in force 2026-01-01 |
| Export duty | ChromiumUnbeneficiated chrome: chrome ore and fines (including crushed/milled/washed ore) and chrome concentrate smelted into pellet or ingot form | 10%higher of ferrochrome market value on a reputable metals exchange or the bill-of-entry value | Finance Act, 2025 (Act No. 7 of 2025), gazetted 29 Dec 2025 inserting s. 12I in the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12] · s. 42in force 2026-01-01 |
| Export duty | AntimonyExports of antimony | 10%higher of metals-exchange market value or bill-of-entry value | Finance Act, 2025 (Act No. 7 of 2025), gazetted 29 Dec 2025 inserting a further s. 12I (antimony) in the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12] · s. 42in force 2026-01-01 |
| Export duty | Platinum, Palladium, Platinum-group metalsRate where the supplier has built a plant in Zimbabwe capable of producing PGM concentrates and is approved by the finance and mines ministers; other suppliers pay the higher rate in s. 12D(2)(b) (not amended, not verified) | 10%value of unbeneficiated platinum | Finance Act, 2025 (Act No. 7 of 2025), gazetted 29 Dec 2025 amending s. 12D(2)(a) of the Value Added Tax Act [Chapter 23:12] · s. 40in force 2026-01-01 |
| Export levy | LithiumLevy also applies to coal, black granite, quarry stone and dimensional stone; raised from 1% to 3% | 3%gross value of the sale within Zimbabwe or on export | Finance Act, 2025 (Act No. 7 of 2025), gazetted 29 Dec 2025 amending s. 22P of the Finance Act [Chapter 23:04] · s. 10in force 2026-01-01 |
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 (2)
2023-08-15 · Prepayment · signed
Suzhou TA&A Ultra Clean Technology (Canmax Technologies) → Premier African Minerals Limited (Zulu Lithium) · Zulu lithium pilot plant (Zimbabwe)
Canmax and AIM-listed Premier African Minerals signed a revised offtake and prepayment agreement for the Zulu lithium project in Zimbabwe, restoring the 2022 deal that Canmax had terminated in June 2023 after delivery delays and setting 1 April 2025 as the deadline to deliver product or settle the prepayment.
2023-02-28 · Acquisition · signed · US$1,750 m
China Natural Resources Inc. → Feishang Group Limited; Top Pacific (China) Limited · Williams Minerals lithium mine (Zimbabwe)
Nasdaq-listed China Natural Resources agreed to buy Williams Minerals, holder of a lithium mining permit in Zimbabwe, from its controlling shareholder Feishang Group and Top Pacific for up to USD 1.75 billion in shares and notes, with ownership vesting region by region from 2024 to 2026.
Mines and facilities (14)
- AfroChine ferrochrome smelter (Selous)Smelter · In production · Mashonaland WestChromium
- Arcadia lithium mineMine · In production · Mashonaland EastLithium, Tantalum
- Bikita lithium mineMine · In production · MasvingoLithium, Tantalum
- Kamativi lithium mineMine · In production · Matabeleland NorthLithium, Tin
- Karo Platinum ProjectProject · Construction · Mashonaland WestPlatinum-group metals, Nickel, Copper
- Mimosa MineMine · In production · MidlandsPlatinum, Palladium, Nickel, Copper
- Ngezi Mine (Zimplats)Mine · In production · Mashonaland WestPlatinum, Palladium, Nickel, Copper
- Sabi Star lithium mineMine · In productionLithium
- Selous Metallurgical ComplexSmelter · In production · Mashonaland WestPlatinum, Palladium, Nickel, Copper
- Trojan Nickel MineMine · In production · Mashonaland CentralNickel, Copper, Cobalt
- Unki MineMine · In production · MidlandsPlatinum, Palladium, Nickel, Copper
- Zimasco Kwekwe ferrochrome smelterSmelter · In production · MidlandsChromium
- Zimasco Shurugwi chrome minesMine · In production · MidlandsChromium
- Zulu Lithium and Tantalum ProjectProject · Construction · Matabeleland SouthLithium, Tantalum
Latest news
All news →- UN critical-minerals support mechanism to include five African countries
2026-10-02 · Ecofin Agency
- Zimbabwe's first-half 2026 lithium export earnings exceed its full-year 2025 total
2026-07-31 · Ecofin Agency