Zimbabwe’s rushed mining wager on itself is paying off as it sees a record $2.5 billion profit added to its economy

According to official statistics, Zimbabwe's mineral exports generated a record $2.53 billion in the first half of 2026, up 84% from $1.38 billion during the same period the previous year.

The revenue surge was attributed to increased global demand for minerals, particularly those produced in the Southern African country, higher commodity prices, and Zimbabwe's ongoing drive to process more of its natural resources locally before exporting.

According to Dr. Nomsa Moyo, general manager of the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ), the results demonstrate the benefits of the country's mineral beneficiation policy, which bolsters value addition within the country rather than exporting raw minerals.

The first-half earnings of the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) constitute the highest ever recorded during the January-to-June period.

The state-owned firm is in charge of marketing all of Zimbabwe's minerals except gold and silver, which are handled by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Fidelity Gold Refinery.