Zimbabwe has suspended exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates with immediate effect, the mines ministry said on Wednesday, citing alleged malpractices and leakages in the country’s mineral export system.
In a statement, the ministry said the ban would remain in place “until further notice” and would apply to all minerals currently in transit.
“Government expects cooperation of the mining industry on this measure which has been taken in the national interest,” it said, adding that authorities were reviewing export procedures to address concerns over accountability and compliance.
In a February 17 letter addressed to the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and seen by Reuters, the ministry said it would realign export processes due to “continued malpractices during the exportation of minerals”.
“This review is part of a broader effort to curb leakages and enhance efficiency within our systems,” the letter said.
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The move marks a significant escalation in Harare’s efforts to tighten control over its vast mineral resources and push for greater domestic processing, particularly of lithium, a key component in electric vehicle batteries.
Zimbabwe is Africa’s top producer of lithium and has seen rapid growth in output in recent years following large-scale investments by Chinese mining companies, including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine Resource Group, Chengxin Lithium Group and Yahua Group.
The southern African country exported 1.128 million metric tons of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate in the year to December 2025, up 11 percent from the previous year, according to official data.
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Most of the concentrate is shipped to China for further processing into battery-grade materials such as lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate. However, the government has increasingly pressed miners to invest in in-country beneficiation as it seeks to capture more value from the global transition to cleaner energy.
A ban on exports of lithium concentrates had previously been expected to take effect in 2027 as part of that strategy. Wednesday’s announcement brings forward restrictions and broadens them to cover all raw minerals.
The ministry said the suspension was intended to reinforce its commitment to value addition, compliance and accountability in the export of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources.
Analysts say the abrupt halt could disrupt supply chains, particularly for Chinese refiners reliant on Zimbabwean spodumene, while also affecting short-term export revenues in a country where mining is a key source of foreign currency.
At the same time, the government appears determined to accelerate local processing capacity. Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt recently completed a US$400 million plant in Zimbabwe to convert lithium concentrates into lithium sulphate, an intermediate product that can be refined into battery-grade material.
Meanwhile, Sinomine Resource Group has announced plans to build a US$500 million lithium sulphate plant at its Bikita mine.
Zimbabwe holds some of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium reserves and has positioned itself as a strategic supplier in the fast-growing electric vehicle battery market.
But concerns over smuggling, under-declaration of exports and revenue leakages have long dogged the mining sector. Authorities have in recent years introduced tighter licensing rules and export controls, arguing that stricter oversight is necessary to protect national interests.
The latest suspension underscores Harare’s balancing act between attracting foreign investment and asserting greater control over resource wealth as demand for critical minerals surges worldwide.
