Zambia has extended the suspension of a 10% export duty on copper concentrates until September 30, 2026, as the country seeks to ease growing stockpiles of unprocessed material caused by prolonged smelter outages at major mining operations.
The move is expected to support mining companies facing processing bottlenecks while helping maintain copper exports from Africa’s second-largest producer of the metal.
According to a government notice seen by Reuters, the duty-free export arrangement covers 271,742 metric tonnes of copper concentrates.
The waiver was first introduced in August 2025 as several mining firms embarked on extensive maintenance programmes and repairs at their smelters following technical challenges that reduced processing capacity.
Copper concentrate is a semi-processed product that is normally refined into copper cathodes before export. Zambia traditionally exports most of its copper as refined cathodes rather than concentrates.
However, ongoing shutdowns and maintenance works at smelting facilities have limited the industry’s ability to process ore domestically, forcing producers to seek alternative export channels.
The extension comes at a critical time for Zambia’s mining sector, which remains central to the country’s economic growth plans. Zambia exported 890,346 metric tonnes of copper in 2025 and is targeting an increase in annual copper production to 3 million tonnes by 2031 as part of its strategy to capitalize on growing global demand driven by electrification and renewable energy investments.
Among the beneficiaries of the extended waiver, Mopani Copper Mines received the largest duty-free export allocation of 100,000 tonnes of copper concentrates.
The mining company is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding and Zambia’s state mining investment company, ZCCM Investments Holdings.
Other major mining firms granted export quotas include Barrick Mining Corporation’s Lumwana Mining Company, which received a quota of 56,986 tonnes, while First Quantum Minerals and Chinese-owned Nkana Mining and Minerals Processing were each allocated approximately 43,000 tonnes.
Meanwhile, Lubambe Copper Mine, which is 70% owned by JCHX Mining, received a duty-free export quota of 15,000 tonnes. Konkola Copper Mines, controlled by Vedanta Resources, was allocated 12,541 tonnes under the arrangement.
Industry analysts say the waiver provides temporary relief to miners by allowing them to clear concentrate inventories that would otherwise remain stranded while smelters undergo maintenance.
The measure is also expected to help preserve export earnings and support mining operations until domestic processing facilities return to full capacity.
The extension underscores the challenges facing Zambia’s copper-processing infrastructure even as the country pursues ambitious production growth targets aimed at strengthening its position in the global copper market.
