The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed plans to export 100,000 metric tons of copper to the United States by the end of January, marking a significant shift in global mineral trade flows and deepening economic ties between Kinshasa and Washington.
The copper shipment will originate from the Tenke Fungurume Mine in Lualaba province, one of the country’s largest and most strategic mining assets. The mine is operated by China’s CMOC Group in partnership with the Congolese state-owned mining company, Gécamines, reflecting the complex intersection of Chinese investment, state participation, and growing U.S. interest in critical minerals.
The export follows the submission by the Congolese government of a list of state-backed mining projects to U.S. authorities for potential investment consideration. It aligns with Washington’s broader push to diversify supply chains for minerals essential to green technologies, electric vehicles, and energy transition infrastructure.
Tenke Fungurume is jointly owned by CMOC, which holds an 80% controlling stake, and Gécamines, which retains 20% under a 2023 agreement. Since acquiring control in 2016, CMOC has invested an estimated $2.5 billion in the operation, making it one of the world’s largest producers of copper and cobalt. Over recent years, the company sold nearly 690,000 tonnes of copper and more than 108,000 tonnes of cobalt, generating billions of dollars in revenue.
Despite this scale, the Congolese government has taken steps to assert greater control over strategic minerals. Authorities temporarily suspended cobalt exports for four months to strengthen oversight and improve pricing leverage. During the suspension, CMOC continued production and stockpiling, with first-quarter 2025 cobalt output rising more than 20% year-on-year. Since then, global cobalt prices have rebounded sharply, highlighting the influence of Congolese supply decisions on global markets.
As part of efforts to consolidate state participation, DR Congo has established Gécamines Trading, a dedicated subsidiary responsible for acquiring and marketing minerals from state-backed operations. According to sources, the subsidiary is central to the copper export to the United States, enabling the government to directly manage its share of production, improve revenue transparency, and negotiate with international partners.
Gécamines’ leadership has described the shipment as the outcome of more than a year of strategic groundwork aimed at strengthening Congo’s position in global raw materials markets and reinforcing sovereignty over its subsoil resources.
The copper export also reflects a sharp rise in U.S.–DRC trade. Data from U.S. authorities show that Congolese exports to the United States reached $1.3 billion in the first seven months of 2025 alone, surpassing the combined total recorded between 2017 and 2024. Analysts attribute the surge to sustained U.S. demand for African raw materials and shifting global supply chains, as Western economies seek alternatives to traditional suppliers.
Historically, DRC copper accounted for only a small share of U.S. imports, which were dominated by Latin American producers. The current development signals a strategic recalibration, as the United States seeks deeper engagement with mineral-rich African countries while balancing China’s longstanding dominance in the sector.
For Kinshasa, the deal shows a broader strategy of trading access to minerals for investment, technology, and stronger geopolitical partnerships, while tightening state oversight of mining revenues to ensure greater domestic benefit.
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