Congo copper exports hit record levels as sales to US and Europe double

Democratic Republic of Congo’s copper exports hit a record 1.72 million metric tons in the first half of 2026, while the share shipped to the United States and Europe doubled from 2025 levels as Kinshasa pushed to diversify critical mineral exports away from China, an official report seen by Reuters showed.

Congo, the world’s largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper producer, is at the centre of a global race for critical minerals. Chinese companies including CMOC (SHA: 603993), Huayou Cobalt (SHA: 603799) and Zijin (SHA: 601899) dominate much of the sector, while the United States and European Union have stepped up efforts to secure alternative supply chains.

Copper exports rose to 1,724,217 tons in January to June from 1,650,189 tons a year earlier, according to the mines ministry’s first-half mining statistics report. Cobalt exports fell 6.4% to 41,140 tons from 43,930 tons, reflecting export quotas imposed by Kinshasa.

Congo’s ‘diversification offensive’

Since signing a strategic minerals partnership with Washington in December 2025, state miner Gecamines has used offtake arrangements with traders Mercuria and Glencore (LON: GLEN) to market its share of copper from major mines, including Chinese-linked operations, to alternative markets.

“The first half of 2026 was marked by the implementation of the export diversification offensive,” the report said.

The share of copper sales destined for the United States and Europe doubled from 2025 levels as Congo sought to reduce its dependence on Chinese trade channels and monetise stakes in Tenke Fungurume Mining, Kamoto Copper Company and other ventures, the report said. It did not provide sales volumes.

Congo’s mines ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Congo also banned exports of copper and cobalt concentrates in June, although first-half exports of copper concentrate still totalled 151,202 tons, containing 50,629 tons of copper.

Eurasian Resources Group’s Frontier Mining, Chinese-owned Kinsenda Copper Company, Everbright Mining and Sabwe Mining were the largest exporters of copper concentrates.

CMOC’s Kisanfu mine was the largest exporter of cobalt hydroxide, shipping 24,825 tons, ahead of Glencore’s KCC and ERG’s Metalkol, the report showed.

(Reporting by Fiston Mahamba and Maxwell Akalaare Adombila. Editing by Mark Potter)