Prisca Tshuma
ZIMBABWE recorded US$4,74 billion in mineral export sales in the nine months to September 30, 2026, driven by a surge in lithium earnings, the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) has said.
The country’ sole mineral marketer -except for gold and silver – said lithium was the largest mineral export revenue earner during the period, generating US$2,16 billion and accounting for 45,6 percent of total mineral sales.
MMCZ general manager Nomusa Moyo said lithium, comprising spodumene, petalite and lithium sulphate, had overtaken platinum group metals (PGMs) as the leading revenue earner.
“Lithium has overtaken Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) as the leading revenue earner in the reported period…We attribute lithium’s emergence as the leading revenue earner to the beneficiation work being driven by government, alongside producers’ investment and operational efforts,” Moyo said.
PGMs generated US$1,73 billion during the nine months, putting lithium about US$430 million ahead.
Overall mineral export sales rose 101,8 percent from US$2,35 billion recorded in the same period last year, adding about US$2,39 billion.
Export volumes increased 23,4 percent to 4,74 million tonnes from 3,84 million tonnes.
Spodumene was the biggest individual contributor, generating US$1,81 billion, up 368,2 percent from the same period last year. Its average realised sales value rose to US$1 483 per tonne from US$387.
Petalite sales surged 583,3 percent to US$155,29 million, while lithium sulphate contributed US$190,52 million.
Moyo said lithium sulphate sales highlighted the growing contribution of local mineral processing to export earnings.
“This demonstrates the contribution that further processing is beginning to make to export earnings,” Moyo said.
PGM matte sales rose 31,6 percent to about US$1,26 billion, while concentrate sales increased 69,8 percent to US$465,56 million. Moyo said higher realised values had supported the growth in PGM revenues.
In September alone, total mineral export sales reached US$685,03 million, up 116,6 percent from the same month last year, while volumes increased 70,8 percent to 844 633 tonnes.
Moyo attributed the broader growth to higher commodity prices, increased production, new markets and efforts to curb mineral leakages.
MMCZ also markets minerals such as chrome, nickel concentrate, including payable co-products like copper, cobalt, and palladium as well as diamonds and other industrial and base metals.