Zambia exported Portland cement worth over K230 million to Congo DR in June

According to official government data, Zambia exported […]

According to official government data, Zambia exported goods worth over K3.8 billion to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in June 2026, with Portland cement excluding white cement accounting for 6.1% of the total, equivalent to K233.7 million. Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times (ZBT), economic expert Samuel Lungu said the significant share of cement exports highlights the continued demand for Zambian construction and infrastructure products in the DRC.

 Lungu said the K233.7 million in monthly cement exports also demonstrates that Zambia’s regional trade is gradually expanding beyond traditional mineral exports. “Cement at K233.7 m in one month shows DRC’s ongoing demand for building materials due to urbanization, mining expansion, and road projects in Katanga/Lualaba,” he said.

Meanwhile, he added that the earnings could translate into approximately K2.8 billion annually if the monthly export level is sustained, creating opportunities for foreign exchange inflows, industrial employment, and increased government revenue. Lungu told ZBT that the DRC market has become particularly important for Zambian cement producers because of geographical proximity, with lower transportation costs giving local manufacturers an advantage over suppliers from distant markets.

 “Zambia shares a border with DRC’s mining belt, and cement’s bulky nature makes regional supply more commercially attractive because transporting the product over long distances significantly increases costs,” he said.

However, the expert warned that Zambia must avoid becoming overly dependent on DRC infrastructure spending, as any slowdown in projects, changes in tariffs, or trade restrictions could quickly affect local cement producers.

 He urged the government and industry to secure stable trade arrangements, address non-tariff barriers at the Kasumbalesa border, harmonize product standards with the DRC, and improve energy reliability to protect Zambia’s competitiveness.

 Lungu further called for greater value addition and backward linkages, saying Zambia should use the growing cement export opportunity as a foundation for expanding into prefabricated materials, steel, and other finished construction products while ensuring more of the K233.7 million generated each month remains within the domestic economy.

By Philip Sinkala