Copper is central to Zambia’s economy. The country is the world’s 10th-largest copper producer, and copper accounted for around 60% of export revenues in 2023. Yet, the country’s heavy reliance on mining exposes it to risks, including slower growth, limited diversification, weak job creation, and heightened vulnerability to external shocks.
Against this backdrop, deeper participation in the copper value chain—through processing and manufacturing—offers a potential pathway to strengthen resilience and domestic linkages. Still, value addition is not automatic. Its benefits depend on careful sequencing, competitiveness, and the ability to address binding constraints while proactively managing social and environmental costs.
With global demand for copper expected to remain strong, and projections pointing to persistent supply shortfalls into the mid-2030s, Zambia is therefore well placed to expand its role in copper value chains.
This report highlights key opportunities for Zambia to grow its copper processing and manufacturing industries. It analyzes challenges facing the country's copper-based industries and assesses how the country's policies respond to these. Finally, it provides recommendations on how to harness copper processing and manufacturing for sustainable development.
