ZCCM-IH Eyes Copper Trading Expansion to Capture More Value from Zambia’s Mineral Wealth
ZCCM-IH Plans Entry Into Copper Trading as Zambia Seeks Greater Returns from Growing Copper Production
ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) is exploring a strategic move into copper trading as part of a broader effort to increase Zambia’s participation in the mineral value chain and capture a larger share of revenues generated by the country’s copper industry.
Speaking at the Financial Times Metals and Mining Summit in London, Phesto Musonda, Chairperson of ZCCM-IH, outlined the company’s ambition to move beyond its traditional role as an investor in mining assets and become more directly involved in the marketing and sale of copper.
According to Musonda, Zambia can no longer rely solely on dividends generated from equity holdings in mining operations.
Instead, the country must seek greater participation across the mining value chain, including commodity trading, where significant value is often captured.
The proposed strategy would enable ZCCM-IH to participate more actively in global metals markets and potentially market copper linked to its mining investments, creating additional revenue streams while strengthening Zambia’s role within the international copper industry.
Supporting Zambia’s Copper Growth Ambitions
The initiative comes as Zambia intensifies efforts to increase annual copper production to three million tonnes by 2031, more than triple current output levels.
Government and industry stakeholders increasingly view value addition, local participation and downstream activities as essential to maximizing the economic benefits of this anticipated growth.
ZCCM-IH currently holds strategic stakes in several major mining operations across the country, including 49% of Mopani Copper Mines and 20.6% of Konkola Copper Mines, among other investments in the mining and energy sectors.
By participating directly in copper sales and commodity marketing, the company aims to create a stronger link between mineral production and national economic returns, reducing dependence on traditional shareholder income structures.
Exploring Global Partnerships
As part of the planned expansion, ZCCM-IH is engaging with international investors, financiers, commodity traders and copper buyers to better understand global trading opportunities and evaluate potential partnership models.
The company believes that participation in metals trading will become increasingly important as global demand for copper continues to grow, driven by investments in power infrastructure, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and data centres.
Musonda also stressed that maximizing the benefits of Zambia’s mineral resources will require continued investment in reliable electricity supply and expanded mineral processing capacity to support local value addition and industrial development.
Part of a Broader Strategic Shift
The proposed move reflects a wider transformation underway within ZCCM-IH as it seeks to increase the value generated from its portfolio of mining investments.
The company has previously indicated interest in commodity trading models that would allow it to market mineral production attributable to its equity holdings rather than relying exclusively on dividend distributions.
As competition for critical minerals intensifies globally, Zambia is increasingly looking for ways to secure higher returns from its resource base through production growth, beneficiation, trading participation and stronger integration into international supply chains.
If successfully implemented, ZCCM-IH’s entry into copper trading could mark a significant evolution in the company’s business model while supporting Zambia’s broader objective of retaining more value from one of its most important economic sectors.
