Mercuria-Gécamines Joint Venture Secures 240,000-Tonne Zinc Concentrate Offtake Deal, Opening New DRC Export Stream

## Mercuria-Gécamines Joint Venture Secures Major Zinc Concentrate Offtake Agreement Commodity trading giant Mercuria has announced the finalisation of an offtake agreement between Gécamines, the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) state-owned mining enterprise, and Kipushi Corporation, establishing a new and substantial zinc concentrate export stream from one of Africa's most significant base metal deposits. According to a PR Newswire release issued on 16 October 2026, the joint venture between Mercuria and Gécamines will be responsible for marketing approximately 240,000 tonnes (kt) of Kipushi zinc concentrate annually to international buyers. The agreement marks Kipushi's formal entry as a major exporter of zinc concentrate to global commodity markets. ### Maritime and Logistics Significance For the maritime and bulk shipping sectors, the deal represents a meaningful addition to dry bulk cargo volumes originating from central Africa. Zinc concentrate is typically transported as a bulk commodity, requiring specialised handling at export terminals due to its moisture-sensitive and potentially liquefaction-prone characteristics under IMSBC Code classifications. Shippers and port operators handling DRC mineral exports will be watching closely as logistics chains are established to move material from the landlocked Kipushi mine — located in Haut-Katanga Province near the Zambian border — to suitable export ports, most likely via the established corridors through Dar es Salaam in Tanzania or Durban in South Africa. ### Strategic Context The Kipushi mine, historically one of the world's highest-grade zinc deposits, was restarted in recent years under the operatorship of Ivanhoe Mines. The involvement of Mercuria — a Geneva-headquartered trading house with extensive bulk commodity logistics capabilities — alongside the DRC state through Gécamines underscores the growing commercial interest in securing offtake from African critical mineral projects as global demand for zinc in battery technology and galvanisation continues to rise. The 240,000-tonne annual volume, if consistently achieved, would represent a notable increment to African zinc concentrate export tonnages and could influence freight demand on relevant bulk carrier routes serving southern and eastern African ports. Further details regarding shipping arrangements, port of export, and vessel size requirements have not yet been disclosed by the parties. Industry observers will be monitoring subsequent announcements for clarity on the supply chain configuration underpinning this agreement. *Source: PR Newswire / Mercuria press release, 16 October 2026.*