Next Africa

Zimbabwe’s Export Ban Jolts the Lithium Market

African nations want more minerals to be processed locally.
Ore at the Bikita Minerals lithium mine, operated by Sinomine Resource Group in Bikita, Zimbabwe, in November 2024.Photographer: Cynthia R Matonhodze/Bloomberg

Welcome to Next Africa, a daily newsletter on where the continent stands now — and where it’s headed. Sign up here to have it delivered to your email. In today’s edition, we look at how Zimbabwe has shaken up the lithium market.

Zimbabwe is keeping Chinese lithium miners guessing about how long it intends to block their exports.