African Continent's Key Minerals: The Copper Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Owned by China's Zijin Mining, Sees a Decline in Production but an Increase in Revenue

¬ In 2025, Kamoa-Kakula's revenue increased by 5% to $3.28 billion

¬ Earthquake disasters caused copper production to drop sharply to 388,841 tons

¬ Rising prices offset the impact of declining sales; sales are expected to grow in 2026

Ivanhoe Mines, Canada, announced on February 18 that the Democratic Republic of Congo's largest copper mine, Kamoa-Kakula, achieved revenue of $3.28 billion in 2025, up 5% from $3.11 billion in 2024. Despite a decline in copper production, the mine achieved this impressive result.

In 2025, production fell to 388,841 tons from 437,061 tons in the previous year, and sales also declined by 11%. This slowdown was due to reduced performance expectations after operational disruptions caused by an earthquake in May 2025. Despite these operational challenges, the project benefited from a favorable market environment where global copper prices rose by more than 20%.

Ivanhoe Mines did not disclose specific details of the revenue growth, but data show that its average copper price in 2025 was $4.40 per pound (approximately $9,700 per ton), an increase from $4.09 per pound in the previous year. The company expects to sell an additional 30,000 tons of copper through inventory sales in 2026. Although the beginning of 2026 showed strong momentum, according to Transaction Economics, copper prices continued to fluctuate, with a decline observed during Thursday's trading session.

The market dynamics and operational performance of the Kamoa-Kakula mine will determine the revenue outlook for 2026. Ivanhoe Mines plans to achieve a maximum production of 420,000 tons this year. This company, led by billionaire Robert Friedland, who holds dual Canadian and American citizenship, owns 39.6% of the project, which is equivalent to the stake held by China's Zijin Mining, while the Congolese government holds 20% of the shares.

Source: ecofinagency

Original: toutiao.com/article/1857633671958528/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.