DRC Copper Exports to US Surge Past $2 Billion as Demand Strengthens
DRC Copper Exports to US Surge as Trade Tops $2 Billion in Seven Months
Copper is rapidly strengthening its position in trade between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States, with Congolese exports to the U.S. exceeding $2 billion in the first seven months of 2026.
U.S. trade data shows that American imports from the DRC reached $2.123 billion between January and July 2026, compared with approximately $1.281 billion during the same period in 2025. This represents an increase of nearly 66% year on year.
The seven-month figure has already surpassed the $1.928 billion recorded for the whole of 2025 and is almost seven times higher than the $323.2 million in Congolese goods imported by the U.S. in 2024.
In 2025, copper and copper products accounted for approximately $1.81 billion, representing nearly 94% of total U.S. imports from the DRC.
The trend continued into 2026. During the first half of the year, U.S. imports from the DRC reached about $1.411 billion, of which approximately $1.04 billion consisted of copper and related products.
The acceleration became particularly pronounced in July, when U.S. imports from the DRC climbed to $712.7 million, compared with $264.4 million in July 2025 an increase of almost 170%.
DRC supplies a growing share of US copper demand
The increase comes as the United States records exceptionally strong demand for copper.
U.S. copper imports reached a record 225,094 tonnes in July, with the DRC reportedly supplying around 55,000 tonnes, equivalent to almost one-quarter of the month’s imported volume.
The figures highlight the growing strategic importance of the DRC’s copper industry as the United States seeks to secure reliable supplies of critical minerals.
The DRC is already one of the world’s largest copper producers, with production growth continuing to support the country’s broader economic expansion.
According to France’s Treasury, copper production increased by 10.4% in 2025, while the extractive sector remained the main driver of economic growth.
Gécamines seeks to diversify copper markets
The surge in U.S.-bound exports comes as state-owned mining company Gécamines pursues a broader strategy to diversify markets for Congolese minerals.
Through its interests in several joint ventures and its partnership with Mercuria, Gécamines is seeking greater control over the marketing and destination of copper and other minerals produced through its portfolio.
The Congolese government has reported that copper sales to the United States and Europe doubled during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
US-DRC minerals partnership gains momentum
The expanding copper trade also reflects a broader strategic rapprochement between Kinshasa and Washington.
The two countries signed a strategic partnership in December 2025, creating opportunities for Congolese state-owned mining entities to use their marketing rights and offtake arrangements to facilitate access to the U.S. market.
For Washington, the relationship provides an opportunity to strengthen access to critical mineral supplies.
For the DRC, the priority is to convert growing U.S. demand into long-term investment, local processing and greater domestic value addition.
Consultancy estimates cited by Le Point indicate that Gécamines could potentially direct up to 250,000 tonnes of copper, 12,000 tonnes of cobalt and 100,000 tonnes of zinc to the U.S. market in 2026.
Copper becomes increasingly strategic for the DRC
The latest trade figures underscore the growing importance of copper not only to the DRC’s mining industry but also to its international economic strategy.
With copper prices at historically elevated levels and global demand expected to remain strong because of electrification, renewable energy, power infrastructure and manufacturing, the DRC is positioned to play an increasingly important role in global copper supply.
The challenge for Kinshasa will be to ensure that rising exports translate into greater investment in mining capacity, processing, infrastructure, government revenues and economic development, rather than simply higher volumes of unprocessed mineral exports.
