Zimbabwe Lithium Exports Earn US$746 Million in Early 2026

The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe reported that the country's lithium sector generated US$746 million in export earnings during the first half of 2026. Spodumene concentrates dominated these figures, contributing US$672.8 million, while lithium sulphate accounted for US$73.2 million.

Export volumes for spodumene concentrates reached 240,826 tonnes in the first quarter of 2026, valued at US$178.64 million. Although this represented a modest 2 percent increase in volume over the previous year, export earnings surged by 106 percent due to stronger international pricing.

The Zimbabwean government is leveraging the production of lithium sulphate to expand domestic beneficiation capacity. This shift aims to increase value addition within the mining sector, reducing the reliance on raw spodumene exports.