DRC Strengthens Global Copper Role Through ERG-Mercuria Partnership
DRC Copper Market Boosted by ERG-Mercuria $100M Deal Amid Rising Global Demand
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to solidify its position as a key global copper producer. On October 30, 2025, Swiss trader Mercuria Energy Trading announced a three-year agreement with Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) to purchase copper from its Congolese assets.
The partnership includes a pre-financing facility of up to $100 million, though specific details such as pricing, copper volumes, or interest rates were not disclosed.
While such agreements are common in the sector, the deal has sparked concerns over transparency from the Congolese state and Gécamines, the state-owned mining company.
Gécamines, a minority shareholder in several joint ventures, has been advocating for the right to market its share of production directly.
Mercuria Expands DRC Presence
For Mercuria, the ERG deal strengthens its position in the DRC, following prior acquisitions of copper from Gécamines’ share in the Tenke Fungurume (TFM) mine, one of the country’s largest copper operations producing over 450,000 tonnes annually.
ERG and Strategic Investments
ERG, 40% owned by the Kazakh state, is among the DRC’s main copper producers. Its subsidiaries Frontier and Metalkol sold 120,176 tonnes of copper in 2024, with plans to increase production through projects like Swanmines, recently revived after an agreement with Gécamines.
Mercuria’s financial facility will support these initiatives, enhancing ERG’s financial flexibility and securing supply for the Swiss trader.
Global Copper Context
The DRC, the world’s second-largest copper producer after Chile, recorded 3.1 million tonnes in 2024, driven by demand linked to the energy transition and AI growth.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global copper supply deficit could reach 40% by 2035, contributing to rising prices.
In the past year, copper prices surged nearly 20%, with futures contracts hitting $11,500 per ton on the London Metal Exchange (LME).
The ERG-Mercuria deal highlights the DRC’s strategic importance in the global copper market, positioning the country as a critical supplier amid soaring international demand and a tightening global copper supply.
