Given its limited access to the sea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) strongly relies on its neighbors, including South Africa and Tanzania, to export its copper. Angola may soon become a new shipping route, due to the slowness when passing through Tanzania and SA.
Last week, the first shipment of Congolese copper left the port of Lobito in Angola for the United States. Trafigura, part of the consortium managing the Lobito rail corridor and port, announced the departure on August 22. The copper cathodes were shipped from Kolwezi and arrived at Lobito six days later, confirming the Lobito corridor as the quickest export route for DRC copper. In contrast, reaching ports in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, or Durban, South Africa, takes 14 and 25 days, respectively.
Before the recent shipment to the US, the DRC had sent some of its copper to Europe and the Far East, through the Lobito corridor. The European Union and the United States are financially backing the corridor's development to challenge China's dominance in copper supplies from the Central African Copperbelt, which mainly includes the DRC and Zambia. There are also plans to extend the Lobito corridor into Zambia.
Côte d’Ivoire traced 40% of cocoa for 2024/25 season Most cocoa remains untracked due to info...
• World Bank raises 2025 growth forecasts for Benin, Mali, Burkina, Côte d’Ivoire• Senegal and Niger...
• AfDB chief Sidi Ould Tah met BOAD president Serge Ekué in Abidjan on Aug. 30.• Talks focused on jo...
• UAC of Nigeria acquired CHI Limited, known for Chivita juices and Hollandia dairy, from Coca-Cola ...
IFC will provide up to $40 million to Banque Islamique du Sénégal (BIS) under a Mourabaha agr...
The new projection marks a 0.1-point increase from July estimates. Nigeria and South Africa see upgraded forecasts at 3.9% and 1.1%, respectively. The...
The government seeks to reclaim CFA803 billion in unpaid taxes from 2023–2024. The campaign follows an audit by a task force reviewing domestic and...
Ghana’s President John Mahama unveiled plans for a 20-year green city project spanning Greater Accra, Volta, and the Eastern Region, inviting Chinese...
Kenya Airways began a series of SAF-powered flights on October 14, using 2% locally produced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The airline plans to...
The Great Zimbabwe National Monument stands as one of southern Africa’s most iconic archaeological sites, a silent witness to a thriving African...
African countries prepare to celebrate Intangible Cultural Heritage Day Planned events spotlight traditions, rituals, and cultural...