Zimbabwe's Lithium Export Ban

On February 25, 2026, Zimbabwe's government suspended all exports of unprocessed minerals, including lithium-bearing concentrates (the "Export Ban"). The Export Ban, announced by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development is indefinite ("until further notice") and explicitly covers every raw mineral shipment – including material already in transit.

In a public statement regarding the Export Ban, the Minister cited the "national interest" and the need to promote "in-country beneficiation", improve transparency, and prevent mineral export "leakages" such as smuggling and under-invoicing. All mining industry players have been asked to cooperate with the new measures as part of Zimbabwe's push to capture more value from its mineral resources domestically.¹