Zambia’s copper output down 4% in the first quarter

Reuters | May 13, 2026 | 7:32 am Markets Africa Cobalt Copper

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Lumwana copper mine in Zambia. (Image courtesy of Barrick Gold.)

Zambia’s copper output fell 4% in the first quarter of 2026 from a year ago, Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe said on Wednesday.

Copper output reached 208,992 metric tonnes in the three months to the end of March, down 4.27% from 218,308 metric tonnes in the first quarter of 2025, representing combined production from large-scale mines and small-scale operators.

Kabuswe said that despite the decline in overall copper production, first-quarter output from large-scale mines rose 1.8% year-on-year.

Production gains were recorded at Lumwana Mine, Konkola Copper Mines, Mopani Copper Mines and several other operations, offsetting declines at other major mines.

Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose exports of the red metal fell almost 15% in the first quarter.

Zambia’s first-quarter cobalt output was down 9.15% year-on-year, Kabuswe said.