According to a government order reviewed by Reuters on Thursday (6 Aug), DR Congo has banned exports of copper concentrate and cobalt concentrate as part of efforts to expand domestic mineral processing and retain more value from its mineral resources.
The order, signed by Mines Minister Louis Kabamba Watum, Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya and Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba, took immediate effect. It allows one-year export waivers in strategic cases and introduces a new tax regime for economically significant mining by-products following a three-month transition period.
Key developments
- Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange rose after the ban was reported.
- The measure replaces a 2023 export framework and previous exemptions.
- DR Congo exported 696,725 tonnes of copper cathodes in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 53,926 tonnes of copper concentrates.
ℹ️ Reuters
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