Is the DRC the biggest copper producer in Africa?

The DRC is Africa's largest copper producer. The country produced approximately 2.0 million tonnes of copper in 2023, according to Banque Centrale du Congo data. Zambia, the continent's second-largest copper producer, produced approximately 750,000–800,000 tonnes in the same period. No other African country produces copper at a scale that competes with either.

Latest production context

USGS estimated DRC copper mine production at approximately 2.0 million tonnes for 2023, consistent with Banque Centrale du Congo figures. The gap between the DRC and Zambia has widened over the past decade as DRC production expanded and Zambia's output declined from historical highs before a partial recovery under the current Zambian government's investment promotion programme.

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia produce copper but in volumes that place them well below both the DRC and Zambia. On continent-wide comparisons, the DRC's share of African copper mine production exceeded 60 percent in 2023 on most available estimates.

Which mines drive that output

The DRC's African copper leadership is produced by a small number of very large operations. Tenke Fungurume / KFM (CMOC) at approximately 450,000 tonnes, Kamoa-Kakula (Ivanhoe/Zijin) at approximately 437,000 tonnes, Mutanda (Glencore) at approximately 300,000 tonnes, and KCC (Glencore) collectively account for the majority of national output.

Kamoa-Kakula's expansion programme means DRC copper production is likely to grow through the 2025–2030 period, which would widen the gap with Zambia further unless Zambia's investment cycle accelerates substantially.