Zimbabwe has issued lithium export quotas to two Chinese companies after previously suspending exports. The move supports a policy shift toward increased local processing and stricter regulation of the sector. Authorities are balancing foreign investment with long-term goals of domestic beneficiation.
Zimbabwe has granted export quotas for lithium concentrates to two Chinese mining companies, marking a shift in policy months after authorities suspended shipments of the mineral to tighten regulation and promote local processing.
According to a report by the China Securities Journal, the quotas were issued to Chengxin Lithium and Sinomine Resource, both of which operate lithium mining projects in Zimbabwe.
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The move follows a decision by Zimbabwean authorities earlier this year to halt exports of raw minerals and lithium concentrates, citing concerns over alleged malpractice and revenue leakages within the sector.
In February, the Government suspended all exports of unprocessed lithium products as part of a broader policy aimed at encouraging domestic beneficiation and increasing value addition within the country’s mining industry.
Officials later indicated that a controlled quota system would be introduced to allow limited exports under stricter conditions, ensuring that more processing of lithium resources is carried out locally before export approval is granted.
Earlier this month, authorities confirmed that the quota framework would be implemented for lithium concentrate producers, reinforcing the Government’s position on boosting domestic industrial capacity while maintaining participation in global markets.
Zimbabwe remains Africa’s largest lithium producer, with the mineral playing a growing role in global supply chains, particularly in the production of electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage systems.
Data from 2025 shows that Zimbabwe exported approximately 1.128 million metric tons of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate to China, representing about 15 percent of China’s total imports of the material.
A representative from Chengxin Lithium said the company’s operations in Zimbabwe have an annual production capacity of about 290,000 metric tons, adding that the export quota allocated was sufficient to meet its operational requirements.
Sinomine Resource confirmed it had received a quota of 200,000 metric tons, which is roughly equivalent to its monthly production output in Zimbabwe, according to the report.
Following the announcement, market activity in China responded positively, with shares of Chengxin Lithium reaching the 10 percent daily upper limit on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, while Sinomine Resource recorded a 6.6 percent increase.
Meanwhile, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, another major participant in Zimbabwe’s lithium sector, said it had not yet received any official communication regarding export quotas from the Government.
The introduction of the quota system reflects Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to balance the need for foreign investment in its mining sector with its long-term strategy of increasing domestic beneficiation of critical minerals.
