DRC to Send First Copper Shipment to US Under New Agreement
Econ Desk
– January 17, 2026
3 min read
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is preparing to send its first shipment of copper to the United States (US) under a new agreement between the two countries finalised last month. This marks a significant shift in how the DRC markets its mineral output as it seeks to reduce its long-standing dependence on China.
DRC state-owned miner Gécamines will ship 100 000 tonnes of copper to the US from the Tenke Fungurume mine, in the south of the country, close to the Zambian border.
The mine is operated by a Chinese company, CMOC, one of the world’s biggest miners of copper and cobalt, among other important minerals.
The shipment follows a strategic partnership signed last month between Washington and Kinshasa aimed at strengthening economic ties and securing critical mineral supply chains. The partnership gives US companies preferential access to the DRC’s vast reserves of cobalt, copper, lithium, and tantalum, minerals that are vital in the production of high-tech products, such as electric vehicles and sophisticated electronics.
Congolese officials say the move is part of a broader effort to regain influence over the marketing of the country’s minerals, after decades in which exports were largely handled by foreign traders and Chinese buyers. While China remains the dominant destination for Congolese copper, authorities have stressed that the US deal is designed to add options rather than replace existing partners.
A new trading venture between Gécamines and a Swiss commodities trader, Mercuria, will underpin the shipments, covering both copper and cobalt. The US Development Finance Corporation has signalled interest in supporting related logistics, including potential investments linked to the Lobito corridor rail route.
Despite the new initiative, trade volumes remain heavily tilted toward Beijing. In 2024, the DRC’s trade with China stood at about $28 billion, compared with roughly $1.6 billion with the US.
China currently controls about 80% of the DRC’s mining output. This new arrangement may end this dominance by Beijing.
