China’s supply chain meets the wall of African resource nationalism

AI Summary

African resource-rich nations, led by Zimbabwe, are asserting greater control over critical minerals such as lithium, abruptly suspending raw export exports to force domestic value addition. This resource nationalism is driving up global prices and disrupting Chinese supply chains reliant on African mineral imports.

Resource-rich African nations are increasingly asserting control over critical minerals to maximise domestic returns, sending global prices soaring and exerting pressure on Chinese supply chains. Zimbabwe, Africa’s largest lithium producer, last month abruptly suspended exports of raw lithium minerals and concentrates, moving its 2027 deadline forward. Zimbabwe’s mines minister Polite Kambamura revealed in a post-cabinet briefing on March 3 that following notice of the intended ban, the industry...