The June 29 order, signed by Mines Minister Louis Kabamba Watum, Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya and Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba, states that "the export of copper and cobalt concentrates is prohibited." The ban takes effect immediately, though one-year export waivers may be granted under "strategic" circumstances.
A Push for Local Value Addition
The ban was motivated by "the need to encourage mining operators to market or export commercial mineral products with high added value," the order stated. DR Congo is the world's largest cobalt producer and the second-largest copper supplier, and the government is seeking to leverage this position to build domestic processing capacity.
The measure is part of President Félix Tshisekedi's administration's broader push to encourage mining companies to process minerals within the country instead of exporting concentrates for refining elsewhere. The government has previously imposed similar restrictions in 2013, 2019 and 2023, while granting waivers where domestic smelting capacity was insufficient.
New Tax Framework Introduced
The order also introduced a new tax regime with a three-month transition period for economically significant mining by-products. The tax on mining by-products applies to trace and ultra-trace minerals recovered during refining using a 55 percent valuation coefficient, with royalties charged alongside those on the main mineral.
The latest order repeals the 2023 framework and its exemptions, replacing it with broader rules covering mineral exports and taxation. Under the new regime, companies must immediately declare by-products in their exports ahead of implementation.
Impact on Major Operators
DR Congo already exports most of its copper as refined metal. Official figures show the country shipped 696,725 tonnes of copper cathodes in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 53,926 tonnes of copper concentrates containing 18,863 tonnes of copper metal. It also exported 51,940 tonnes of cobalt hydroxides containing 17,054 tonnes of cobalt.
Major mining companies with operations in the country, including China's CMOC Group and Zijin Mining Group, have indicated that their products—primarily cathodes and blister copper—do not fall under the ban, suggesting the immediate impact on global supply may be limited. The market only began reacting to the news on August 6, more than a month after the decree was signed.
A Strategic Move with Global Implications
DR Congo's cobalt and copper are critical to the global energy transition. Cobalt is an essential component in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, while copper is used in renewable energy systems and electric transmission. The country's resources have attracted significant investment from Chinese, European and American companies seeking to secure supply chains.
The ban is expected to accelerate investment in domestic processing capacity, which could create jobs and generate more revenue for the government. However, it also risks disrupting global supply chains in the short term, as demand for both minerals continues to rise.
The government has said the ban is part of a broader strategy to transform DR Congo from a raw material exporter into an industrialised economy. Similar policies have been pursued by other African countries, including Zambia, which has imposed export restrictions on raw minerals to encourage domestic processing.
Challenges Ahead
The success of the policy will depend on the government's ability to attract investment in processing capacity and to ensure a reliable supply of electricity and other infrastructure needed to support domestic smelting and refining.
DR Congo has faced challenges in implementing previous export restrictions due to limited domestic processing capacity and the influence of mining companies that have negotiated exemptions. The government will need to balance its industrialisation goals with the need to maintain investor confidence and ensure that the mining sector continues to contribute to the country's economy.
With reporting from Reuters, Bloomberg, The East African and Ecofin Agency.
