How Zimbabwe🇿🇼 got China🇨🇳 to pour in a billion dollars into value-added lithium investments
Zimbabwe🇿🇼 banned the export of raw lithium and unbeneficiated minerals, resulting in nearly $1 billion in investments for local processing plants.
Chinese🇨🇳 companies, particularly Huayou and Sinomine, have led investments and construction of several lithium sulfate processing facilities.
The first lithium sulfate shipment from Zimbabwe🇿🇼 was exported in April, marking a milestone as the first such product from both the country and the African continent.
Lithium sales surged in 2026, with volumes rising 2% and value increasing 106% year-over-year, highlighting strong global demand and government policy impact.