Zimbabwe Spodumene Exports Rise 11% In 2025, But Revenue Stays Flat As Prices Weaken
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Zimbabwe’s shipments of spodumene concentrate climbed to 1.128 million metric tonnes in the year ended December 2025, up from 1.014 million tonnes a year earlier, according to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe.
Despite the higher volumes, export earnings were largely unchanged, with spodumene sales of $513.8 million in 2025 versus $514.5 million the prior year, as the sector absorbed weaker global lithium prices.
The industry has faced an extended price slump since late 2022 amid global oversupply of lithium used in batteries, though prices began recovering in the second half of 2025 on stronger energy-storage demand, driven in part by China’s power-sector reforms.
Hard-rock spodumene prices have rebounded above $2,000 a tonne since the start of 2026 from roughly $610 a tonne in June 2025, but remain well below the 2022 peaks above $6,000.
Lithium has become one of Zimbabwe’s key mineral exports alongside gold, platinum group metals, ferrochrome and chrome, with output expanding rapidly after investments by Chinese miners including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine, Chengxin Lithium Group and Yahua.
Most concentrate is exported to China for processing into battery-grade materials, but Zimbabwe plans to ban lithium concentrate exports from 2027 as it pushes for more domestic value addition, while Huayou has built a $400 million plant to process concentrates into lithium sulphate.
