HARARE, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's mineral exports rose by 84.7 percent to 2.53 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2026, up from 1.37 billion dollars recorded during the same period last year, official data showed Friday.
Nomusa Jane Moyo, general manager of the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ), attributed the growth to rising global demand, favorable prices, and the country's mineral beneficiation and value-addition policies.
According to the MMCZ, platinum group metals (PGM) matte remained the dominant export, contributing 33.93 percent of the total export value, followed by spodumene concentrates at 26.57 percent and PGM concentrates at 13.73 percent.
These three mineral commodities accounted for more than 74 percent of export earnings, highlighting Zimbabwe's strategic position as a global supplier of platinum group metals and critical minerals required for the global energy transition, Moyo said.
Zimbabwe exported its first-ever shipment of lithium sulfate in April, amid the government's push for more local mineral beneficiation to maximize value retention.
"We are increasingly exporting products such as ferrochrome, steel, polished granite slabs, and lithium sulphate, which command significantly higher values than unprocessed minerals," Moyo said, adding the performance demonstrates the sector's shift towards higher-value processed goods.
Looking ahead, the MMCZ expects PGMs, lithium products, ferrochrome, steel, and coke to remain the principal drivers of export growth in the second half of 2026.
The MMCZ is the exclusive marketer of all minerals produced in Zimbabwe, except gold and silver.
