Mixed fortunes as Zambia declares mid-year copper production report, output rises 17.8% in Q2 2025

Zambia’s copper production rose by 17.78 percent in the second quarter of 2025, reaching 439,644.29 metric tonnes compared to 373,263.9 metric tonnes recorded during the same period in 2024.

Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, attributed the surge mainly to increased production at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Mopani Copper Mines, Kansanshi, and Chibuluma mines.

He announced the figures during a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday.

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Small-scale miners contributed 39,477.8 metric tonnes, representing nine percent of the total output in the first half of 2025.

KCM posted the most dramatic increase, producing 35,387.91 metric tonnes compared to just 880.73 metric tonnes in the same period last year—an exponential rise of 3,918 percent.

Mopani also recorded strong growth, with production climbing 60.38 percent to 27,406.21 metric tonnes in 2025, up from 17,087.92 metric tonnes in 2024.

However, overall mid-year production was offset by declines at four operations: SINO Metals Leach, FQM Trident, Mimbula, and Sino Xinyuan.

Production at SINO Metals dropped by 50.87 percent after the mine closed in February 2025 due to a tailings dam failure.

FQM Trident’s output fell 22.72 percent, a result of lower ore grades averaging 0.3 percent in 2025 compared to 0.48 percent in 2024.

Gold production for Q2 stood at 1,777.62 kg, marking a 35.93 percent increase from 1,364.19 kg in 2024.

Kansanshi mine accounted for much of this growth with a 30.31 percent boost in output.

Nickel production, meanwhile, dropped 20.66 percent to 9,570.23 metric tonnes from 12,061.98 metric tonnes in 2024.

Kabuswe explained that FQM Trident’s Enterprise Nickel Mine cut production by 14.87 percent due to ongoing remediation works to stabilize pit walls after slope failures in 2024.

Munali Nickel Mine also saw output plunge by 51.92 percent.
Emerald production fell 16.19 percent to 11,382.77 kg in 2025 compared to 13,581.84 kg in 2024.

Despite the mixed performance across commodities, Kabuswe said the results highlight the benefits of current mining policies and regulatory reforms.

During the same review period, the Mining Licensing Committee processed and granted 560 mining licenses—an increase of 42.49 percent compared to 2024.

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