Exploration, Production and Exports
Production Base and precious metals
COPPER
Production of copper decreased by 5.0 percent to 763,550 Mt in 2022 from 803,747 Metric tonnes in 2021 (see Figure 2-2). This was largely driven by low-ore grade and operational challenges at some major mining houses. Copper production by small scale miners, however, increased by 18.7 percent to 31,591 Metric tonnes in 2022 from 26,610 Metric tonnes in 2021. This was underpinned by increased production activities at mine tailing dumps.
GOLD
Gold production in 2022 decreased by 18.0 percent to 2,945 kgs from 3,599 kgs in 2021 due to low-ore grade and suspension of operations at gold mines.
COBALT
In 2022, cobalt production increased by 4.7 percent to 251.8 Metric tonnes from 240.4 Metric tonnes in 2021 (see Figure 2-4). The increase in production was on account of a marginal increase in cobalt content in the copper ore.
NICKEL
Nickel production in 2022 increased by 5.9 percent to 4,059 Metric tonnes from 3,834 Metric tonnes in 2021 (see Figure 2-5). This was mainly attributed to increased production on account of higher prices.
Production of base and precious metals in 2022
Industrial metals
COAL
Coal output in 2022 increased by 24.1 percent to 823,450 Metric tonnes compared to 663,345 Metric tonnes in 2021 (see Figure 2-6). The increase was mainly attributed to the coming on board of two companies which commenced production during the year under review.
EMERALD
Total output of gemstones increased by 73.9 percent in 2022 to 22,381 kgs from 12,871 kgs produced in 2021 (see Figure 2-7). This was attributed to an increase in production as most mines recovered from the disruptions in operations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the coming on board of a new mine.
MANGANESE
During the period under review, manganese production increased by 22.2 percent to 161,611 Metric tonnes from 132,241 Metric tonnes in 2021 (see Figure 2-9). The increase in production was mainly on account of new processing plants which opened in 2022.
CEMENT
Cement production fell by 16.8 percent in 2022 to 2,271,770 Metric tonnes from 2,732,013 Metric tonnes (see Figure 2-8). The reduction was mainly attributed to the low demand as the construction contracted due to slow down in public infrastructure and mining projects.
Production of Industrial metals and precious stones in 2022
Exports
The Export data has been collected from the 2022 Bank of Zambia Annual Report and from the Ministry of Finance 2022 Economic Report. The table below shows the export quantities and values. Exports may include metals not produced in Zambia, for example, copper concentrates produced in Democratic Republic of Congo but smelted in Zambia and added to metal exported from Zambia.
Exports of base, precious and metals in 2022
Evolution of the average realised price per commodity between 2022 and 2021