ZAMBIA MINING EXPORT PROCEDURE
Step-by-step guide to exporting mineral product from Zambia: which authority signs what, the documents you must hold, royalty payable, and where deals get stuck at the border.
Authority and royalty
Regulator: Ministry of Mines & Minerals Development and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA). Royalty: Copper sliding 5.5 % (LME <$4,500) to 10 % (LME >$9,000); cobalt 8 %; gold 6 %.
Border and logistics
Common exit routes: Solwezi/Kitwe → Dar es Salaam (Tazara rail / road); south via Chirundu to Durban; Lusaka airport for precious.
Documents required
Hold every one of these before booking the truck — missing any single document means the shipment sits at the border.
- Mining licence (large or small scale)
- Export permit (Mines & Minerals Dev)
- ZRA customs entry
- Certificate of Origin (COMESA / SADC)
- ASYCUDA declaration
- Independent assay
- Transit bond Zambia→Tanzania
- Bill of Lading
Assay and valuation
Always use an internationally recognised assayer (SGS, Bureau Veritas, ALS). The buyer's in-house assay is for reference only — final settlement uses umpire assay clauses in the contract.
Common mistakes
Mistakes we see repeatedly:
- Royalty miscalculation on sliding scale
- No COMESA CO → loses preferential tariff
- Using unbonded transporter for Tazara corridor → cargo held at Kasumbalesa or Tunduma
Frequently asked questions
How long does export clearance take?
In Zambia, typically 5–15 working days from application to signed export permit, plus 1–3 days customs at the border. Build a 3-week buffer into shipment planning.
Can I export without a refinery?
Most countries allow concentrate and DSO export. Some (Zimbabwe lithium, Indonesia nickel) now restrict raw ore to force domestic beneficiation. Check the latest rule before signing an offtake.
What if my assay differs from the buyer's?
Use the contract's umpire assay clause — a third independent lab whose result is binding. SGS and Bureau Veritas are the most-cited umpires in African mineral contracts.