Zimbabwe has taken another step towards strengthening its mining industry by introducing a new rail transport option for lithium exports to Mozambique’s Maputo Port.
The move is expected to lower transportation costs, reduce pressure on road networks and improve the efficiency of exporting one of the world’s fastest-growing battery minerals.
Rail Partnership Opens New Export Corridor
The state-owned National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) announced that it has partnered with Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR) and Zimbabwean logistics company Silvergill to transport lithium concentrate by rail.
The first shipment will carry 1,000 metric tonnes of lithium concentrate from Tsingshan Holding Group’s Gwanda Lithium Mine to Maputo Port in Mozambique.
Officials say the new service provides mining companies with an alternative to trucking, which has long been the primary method of moving lithium to export terminals.
A More Efficient Transport Network
Under the new arrangement, the cargo will first travel around 180 kilometres on the BBR railway from Gwanda to Beitbridge.
From there, the National Railways of Zimbabwe network will carry the shipment to the Mozambican border before connecting with the Limpopo railway line, which continues to Maputo Port.
The complete rail journey covers approximately 1,000 kilometres, creating a direct logistics corridor from Zimbabwe’s lithium-producing region to one of southern Africa’s busiest ports.
Reducing Costs and Bottlenecks
For years, Zimbabwe’s lithium producers have depended heavily on road transport, which is more expensive and often affected by traffic congestion, border delays and rising fuel costs.
The government hopes the new railway option will ease those challenges while improving the country’s competitiveness in the global lithium market.
The NRZ has also been working with private logistics companies to increase freight volumes after years of declining rail activity caused by underinvestment in infrastructure.
Growing Demand for Zimbabwe’s Lithium
Zimbabwe is Africa’s leading lithium producer and has attracted billions of dollars in investment from Chinese mining companies over the past few years.
Major firms, including Tsingshan Holding Group, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine, Sichuan Yahua and Chengxin Lithium, have invested heavily in mines and processing facilities across the country.
In 2025, Zimbabwe exported more than 1.13 million tonnes of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate to China, supplying a significant share of the country’s lithium imports.
Looking ahead, Zimbabwe is encouraging more local processing of lithium instead of exporting raw materials. Industry forecasts suggest exports of lithium sulphate, a key ingredient used to produce battery-grade lithium chemicals, could reach 344,000 tonnes annually by 2030 as the country’s processing capacity continues to expand.
