Congo Sending First Copper to US Under Mercuria-Backed Venture

The Democratic Republic of Congo is sending its first shipment of copper to the US through a partnership with Mercuria Energy Group Ltd., as the Trump administration pushes to challenge China’s dominance in supplies of key metals.

Congo state miner Gecamines will ship 100,000 tons of copper from its 20% share of production at CMOC Group Ltd.’s giant Tenke Fungurume mining project in the central African country, it said in a statement Monday. Gecamines Trading is buying the copper from Tenke’s 2026 output and offering it to the American market in the framework of a strategic partnership signed with Washington last month.