Zimbabwe's lithium sector generated US$746 million in export earnings during the first half of 2026, underlining the mineral's growing contribution to the country's export revenues and the gradual expansion of local mineral beneficiation.
According to the latest figures released by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ), spodumene concentrates accounted for US$672.8 million in export earnings, while lithium sulphate generated US$73.2 million.
MMCZ said lithium continued to be one of Zimbabwe's top-performing mineral exports.
"Zimbabwe's lithium sector generated export earnings of US$746 million during the first half of 2026, with spodumene concentrates contributing US$672.8 million and lithium sulphate accounting for US$73.2 million," MMCZ said.
The corporation noted that the wide gap between earnings from spodumene concentrates and lithium sulphate largely reflected significantly higher export volumes rather than differences in value per tonne.
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MMCZ said the latest figures highlighted both the rapid growth of the country's lithium industry and ongoing efforts to move up the mineral value chain.
"While exports continue to be dominated by spodumene concentrates, the production of lithium sulphate reflects the gradual development of domestic beneficiation capacity and the country's drive to increase value addition within the mining sector," the corporation said.
Meanwhile, MMCZ data shows that lithium exports during the first quarter of 2026 reached 240 826 tonnes valued at US$178.64 million, representing a 2 percent increase in export volumes compared with the same period last year.
Export earnings, however, rose by 106 percent, driven by stronger international lithium prices despite the modest increase in shipment volumes.
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