Given the high reliance of the Copperbelt’s mineral processing and logistics on critical consumables supplied via the Middle East, SMM conducted a 17-day field investigation across the Copperbelt to assess the short-term stability of the copper supply chain and the impact of regional infrastructure bottlenecks, engaging with 25 stakeholders in Zambia and DRC and covering the entire value chain, ranging from mining, smelting, refining to downstream logistics and infrastructure investment.

On April 17, Ye Jianhua, Director and Supervisor of the Industry Research Department of SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM), Feng Chundi, Expert of the Industry Research Department of SMM, and Wu Tao, Overseas Marketing Manager of SMM's Copper and Tin Division, visited Shituru Mining Corporation S.A.S. (SMCO) for an on-site survey and exchange. SMCO's relevant management extended a warm reception. During the exchange, the two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on practical operational issues including copper-cobalt mine production and operations outside China, process technology optimization, stable capacity release, and responses to raw material and finished product market fluctuations. Meanwhile, both parties conducted thorough exchanges on topics such as overseas mining project operation and management, production risk prevention and control, market trend analysis, industrial synergistic development, and new energy metal market opportunities. This on-site exchange effectively enhanced both parties' understanding of the current industry landscape and overseas mine operations, laying a solid foundation for continued industry exchanges and deepened industrial collaboration going forward. Introduction to Shituru Mining Corporation S.A.S. Shituru Mining Corporation S.A.S. (SMCO) is located in Likasi, a major mining hub in the Haut-Katanga Province of the DRC. It is a large-scale, modern overseas mining enterprise controlled by Pengxin Global Resources Co., Ltd. (stock code: 600490.SH), a publicly listed firm on China's A-share market. Since commencing production in 2012, SMCO has established and refined a comprehensive industry chain integrating copper and cobalt ore mining, mineral processing, and hydrometallurgy, leveraging the world-class Shituru copper mine resources. The company has adopted the internationally advanced "Leaching-Solvent Extraction-Electrodeposition" (SX-EW) process and operates fully automated production lines covering the entire process of ore crushing, grinding, classification, leaching, solvent extraction, and electrodeposition, with a capacity of tens of thousands of metric tons of high-grade copper and cobalt products annually. Its core products include high-purity copper cathode meeting the London Metal Exchange (LME) Grade A delivery standards, as well as cobalt hydroxide product lines that have been constructed and put into production in recent years in response to the expanding demand from the new energy market. As a commercially operated mining entity of significant scale, SMCO strictly adheres to industry technical standards in its production. The metal raw materials it produces are widely supplied to the global market and serve as indispensable upstream materials in modern industrial chains including NEV power batteries, consumer electronics, power cables, construction piping, and high-end equipment manufacturing. Scheduled to be held on September 15–16, 2026 in Lusaka, Zambia. You are cordially invited to participate! Conference Contact : Wu Tao: 18270916376 jennywu@smm.cn

Cobalt has turned into a major mineral for the world's economy. It plays a big role in making batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Africa holds an important spot in the global cobalt scene. It supplies a huge chunk of this valuable resource.

[SMM Analysis: The internal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo has not yet affected copper production and transportation] it can be seen that the conflict affected areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo are mainly located in the northern and eastern provinces, while the distribution of copper resource production is mainly on the southernmost edge of the copper mineralization belt in the southern provinces of Katanga and Lualaba. There is a significant gap between the war zone and the copper resource production area. At present, we have not heard of any conflict affecting copper mine production.On the other hand, the resource exports of the Democratic Republic of Congo are mainly transported by railway directly to Angola, Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania, and Durban Port in South Africa. The railway lines are mostly extended horizontally or southward and do not pass through the war zone in the north. At present, there is no news that the copper mine transportation line has been affected by the conflict.

[SMM Analysis: Domestic Conflict in the DRC Has Not Yet Affected Copper Production and Transportation] The areas affected by the conflict in the DRC are mainly located in the northern and eastern provinces, while copper resource production is primarily distributed in the southern provinces of Katanga and the southernmost edge of Lualaba Province along the copper belt. There is a significant distance between the conflict zones and the copper production areas. Currently, there have been no reports of copper ore production being impacted by the conflict. On the other hand, the export of resources from the DRC mainly relies on railway transportation directly to Angola, Tanzania's Dar es Salaam Port, and South Africa's Durban Port. The railway lines generally extend horizontally or southward and do not pass through the conflict zones in the north. So far, there have been no reports of copper ore transportation routes being affected by the conflict.

[SMM Analysis: Domestic Conflicts in the DRC Have Not Yet Affected Copper Production and Transportation] The areas affected by conflicts in the DRC are mainly located in the northern and eastern provinces, while copper resource production is primarily distributed in the southern provinces of Katanga and the southernmost edge of Lualaba Province along the copper belt. There is a significant distance between the conflict zones and the copper production areas. Currently, there have been no reports of copper ore production being impacted by the conflicts. On the other hand, the DRC's resource exports are mainly transported by rail directly to Angola, Tanzania's Dar es Salaam Port, and South Africa's Durban Port. The railway lines generally extend laterally or southward, avoiding the conflict zones in the north. So far, there have been no reports of copper ore transportation routes being affected by the conflicts.

[Global Cobalt Raw Material Production in 2024 Estimated at 270,000 mt, Will It Become a Bottleneck for Raw Materials? How Will Chinese Companies Respond?] The long-term bullish logic for cobalt prices has weakened, but the boom period of the new energy industry, 2025-2030, may trigger a temporary supply-demand mismatch. Attention should be paid to the progress of African infrastructure and the impact of alternative materials (such as LFP and lithium-rich manganese-based materials) on cobalt demand. (Battery Network)

【The Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia Agree to Reopen the Kasumbalesa Border】 In July this year, the DRC's Ministry of Foreign Trade announced a one-year suspension on the import of products such as beverages and beer to protect the local economy and jobs. This move subsequently triggered protests by transporters in the border region between Congo and Zambia. According to a Bloomberg report on August 11, the Zambian government announced over the weekend that it had temporarily closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, a measure that could delay exports from Africa's largest copper producer. On the evening of August 12, the DRC and Zambia agreed to reopen the border post recently closed by Zambia during a bilateral ministerial meeting held in Lubumbashi, the capital of Haut-Katanga province in southeastern DRC. Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo ultimately agreed to reopen their shared border at Kasumbalesa. Both parties not only agreed to reopen the border but also to facilitate the free movement of goods. According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the foreign trade ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia established a joint committee to manage safeguard measures. The meeting also agreed to grant a 30-day special exemption to facilitate the transition, allowing relevant parties to adapt to the new regulations.