Zambia’s copper production rose for a second consecutive year in 2025, increasing by 8 percent to 890,346 tonnes, but the country missed its target of producing one million tonnes, the mines minister said on Tuesday.
Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of Congo, produced 825,513 tonnes in 2024. That year’s output marked a 12 percent increase from 2023, ending three consecutive years of declining production.
Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe announced the 2025 figures at a press briefing in Lusaka, describing the results as evidence of a gradual recovery in the sector following years of underinvestment, operational disruptions and regulatory uncertainty.
The latest growth was driven by improved performance at several large mines. Output at Mopani Copper Mines, owned by United Arab Emirates-based International Resources Holding, rose by about 40 percent during the year, while production at Konkola Copper Mines, controlled by Vedanta Resources, also increased.
Canada’s First Quantum Minerals reported a 5 percent rise in production at its Kansanshi mine, Zambia’s largest copper operation, contributing further to the national total, according to the ministry.
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Despite the gains, Zambia failed to reach its goal of producing one million tonnes of copper in 2025. The target had been set as an intermediate milestone toward a longer-term ambition of lifting annual output to 3 million tonnes by 2031.
Recovery amid constraints
Zambia’s copper sector has been rebounding after several challenging years marked by falling output, power supply constraints and disputes between the government and mining companies.
Authorities say the recovery reflects efforts to restore investor confidence, resolve legacy issues at key mines and attract new capital into the sector. However, officials acknowledge that infrastructure bottlenecks, high operating costs and ageing assets continue to weigh on production growth.
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The government has prioritised copper as a strategic commodity, seeking to leverage rising global demand driven by the energy transition and the expansion of electric vehicle manufacturing.
Global copper prices have risen by more than 30 percent over the past year, potentially boosting export earnings, though official revenue figures for 2025 have yet to be released.
“It will be important to assess the impact of higher production once export revenue data become available,” Kabuswe said, adding that price trends and cost pressures would also influence the sector’s contribution to the economy.
Outlook for 2026 and beyond
Zambia’s production outlook for 2026 remains uncertain, though authorities expect output to rise further as investment projects progress and operational improvements take hold.
New production is planned at the Kitumba copper project, being developed by China’s Sinomine Resources, which is expected to add to national output once it comes on stream.
In addition, several mining companies have announced significant capital spending programmes aimed at expanding capacity and improving efficiency.
Barrick Mining has outlined investment plans at its Lumwana mine, while China’s JCHX Mining Management has announced expansion projects at the Lubambe mine. Vedanta Resources has also committed to new investment following its return to operations at Konkola Copper Mines.
Collectively, these projects represent more than $1 billion in planned investment, according to government estimates.
Zambia remains one of the world’s largest copper producers and relies heavily on the metal for foreign exchange earnings and fiscal revenues. Copper accounts for more than 70 percent of the country’s export revenues, making output growth critical to economic performance.
While the missed one-million-tonne target underscores the challenges facing the sector, officials say the sustained recovery over the past two years suggests Zambia is moving gradually toward its longer-term production goals.
