The Zimbabwean government’s Ministry for Mines announced a proposed ban on exports of all lithium concentrates to come into effect in January 2027.

The Government of Zimbabwe announced a ban on lithium concentrates will be implemented from January 2027, impacting all lithium mineral concentrates produced in the country.

The ban comes after earlier pressure by the Zimbabwean government on domestic lithium miners in 2023, ordering operators to submit plans for domestic lithium processing, though the fall back of lithium prices in 2024 saw governmental pressure relaxed, albeit temporarily.

Some operators in Zimbabwe, including Sinomine and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, have already commenced development of downstream lithium processing capacity in Zimbabwe, targeting lithium sulphate as a final product. Other major operation owners Canmax Technologies, Chengxin Lithium and Yahua Group will also have to implement lithium processing capabilities in Zimbabwe to meet the proposed restrictions.

The introduction of export bans to pressure operators to move downstream in mineral processing is not new to the mining industry, with many countries looking to emulate the successful introduction of restrictions on nickel products in Indonesia, which led to significant investment in downstream capacity.

The introduction of export bans in Zimbabwe will predominantly impact the Chinese domestic mineral conversion industry, of which concentrates from Zimbabwe are a key feedstock source.

In the first quarter of 2025, Zimbabwe exported 209kt lithium mineral concentrates to China, containing roughly 25.8kt LCE, making it the second largest source of spodumene concentrate imports for China.

This move may ensure the migration downstream of lithium production capabilities in Zimbabwe targeting the battery industry. However, the implementation of a ban on mineral concentrate exports will impact other industries also reliant on mineral concentrates from Zimbabwe.

Bottle glass producers in South Africa or ceramics and glaze producers in Europe currently consume lithium mineral concentrates from Zimbabwe and will need to find alternative sources of petalite and spodumene feedstocks.