Two major Zambian copper smelters will undergo extended maintenance later this year, tightening regional copper and sulphuric acid supplies.
The Iran war has disrupted global sulphuric acid shipments, forcing Congo mines to reduce usage or cut output.
Neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, top cobalt and second-largest copper producer, is struggling with tightening chemical supply chains.
Zambia’s smelters generate around two million tons of sulphuric acid annually, mostly used by domestic copper mining operations.
Domestic acid stocks are heavily depleted, leaving Zambia with effectively no capacity for sulphuric acid exports, First Quantum said.
Mopani faces three days shutdown in June followed by forty to forty-five day extended outage between August and mid-September after overdue maintenance.
Chambishi is scheduled to shut for about two months through August without explanation for the extended outage, said a trader.
Zambia has tightened sulphuric acid export controls requiring permits to protect local industry, officials say.
Global copper supply is expected to tighten this year after years of underinvestment constrained mine growth.
Zambia produced 890,346 tons of copper last year below one million ton target while Congo exports fell in first quarter.
Mopani operates below 225,000 ton capacity due to concentrate shortages with ownership and development delays causing intermittent stoppages.
