Zimbabwe bans antimony, tungsten exports

Zimbabwe has immediately banned exports of antimony and tungsten ores and concentrates, according to a letter from Secretary for Mines Thomas Wushe cited by Bloomberg. The directive orders the state-owned Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe to halt all shipments, forcing mining companies to refine locally. The policy is part of a broader beneficiation strategy under the mining charter, intended to capture more value from resources. Industry players warn the abrupt ban may trigger revenue losses and illicit smuggling if processing capacity remains insufficient, as the country lacks adequate smelting infrastructure. The ban affects strategic global supply chains, as Zimbabwe is a key producer of these critical minerals. Analysts note that the government's aggressive timeline leaves little room for capacity building, raising the risk of economic disruption. The core vulnerability: the push for local beneficiation risks backfiring amid weak infrastructure and opaque enforcement, potentially destabilizing a key mining sector.