A decade ago, Zimbabwe was barely part of the global lithium industry. Today, it is increasingly connected to one of the technologies reshaping modern life: batteries powering electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
As global demand for EV batteries surged, Zimbabwe emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing lithium producers. Its lithium output rose from 900 tons in 2014 to an estimated 28,000 tons in 2025, increasing its share of global production from 2.8% to 9.7%.
The shift has rapidly increased Zimbabwe’s importance in the global battery supply chain. Chinese firms have invested heavily in the country’s lithium sector, while the government is pushing to move beyond raw mineral exports into local processing.
