This move marks a dramatic acceleration of the government’s "Value Addition" strategy, catching many international mining giants off guard and triggering a surge in global lithium prices.

The Sudden Shift: Why Now? While Zimbabwe previously banned raw lithium ore in 2022 and had set a 2027 deadline to phase out concentrates, the new directive effectively eliminates that two-year grace period.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura cited several critical reasons for the abrupt suspension:

Curbing Malpractices: Authorities reported continued "leakages" and irregularities in export declarations and valuation.

Accelerated Beneficiation: The government is forcing a transition from selling low-value concentrates to producing high-value lithium sulphate (a critical precursor for battery-grade chemicals).

National Interest: The ban includes all shipments currently in transit, signaling a total freeze to audit the sector's transparency.

Market Impact: A Global Supply Squeeze Zimbabwe is Africa’s largest lithium producer and accounted for roughly 10% of global mined supply in 2025. The immediate halt has reverberated across global exchanges:

Price Spike: Lithium carbonate futures on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange jumped over 6% within hours of the news, hitting approximately $26,000 per tonne.

Supply Deficit: Analysts at Canaccord Genuity warn that the ban could remove over 100,000 tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) from the market in 2026, potentially shifting the global market from a surplus to a deficit.

China’s Dilemma: Chinese refineries, which take over 90% of Zimbabwe’s lithium exports, are the most exposed. Companies like Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine are now racing to commission local sulphate plants ahead of schedule.

Comparison of Export Policies Feature Previous Policy (Pre-Feb 2026) New Policy (Effective Immediately) Raw Ore Banned (since 2022) Banned Concentrates Allowed until Jan 2027 Suspended Indefinitely Lithium Sulphate Encouraged Required for Export Third-Party Traders Permitted with licenses Barred (Only miners with plants allowed) Who is Exempt? The ban is not entirely "blanket." According to recent ministry clarifications, export permits will only be re-issued to companies that meet two strict criteria:

Valid Mining Titles: Direct ownership of the resource.

Approved Processing Capacity: Evidence of an operational or near-complete "beneficiation" plant capable of producing lithium sulphate or similar value-added products.

Major players like Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (Huayou Cobalt) are currently finalizing a $400 million processing facility expected to begin production by March 2026, which may allow them to resume operations sooner than smaller competitors.

The Bottom Line Zimbabwe is gambling on its status as a "critical mineral powerhouse" to force industrialization. By cutting off the supply of raw concentrates, Harare is making it clear: if the world wants Zimbabwean lithium, it must build the factories to process it on Zimbabwean soil.