In 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo [Congo (Kinshasa)] was the world’s leading producer of cobalt, accounting for an estimated 75% of global output and estimated 55% of reserves. The country was also the world’s leading producer of tantalum, accounting for 51% of global output; the world’s second-ranked producer of diamond (industrial), mined copper, and refined copper, accounting for 18%, 13% and 9% of global production, respectively; third-ranked producer of niobium, accounting for an estimated 1% of global production; fifth-ranked producer of tin, accounting for an estimated 9% of global production; and seventh-ranked producer of diamond (gem-quality), accounting for an estimated 3% of global production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included germanium, gold, manganese, tungsten, and zinc.
In 2024, the mining and mineral processing sector accounted for an estimated 40.0% of the GDP, and the manufacturing sector, 8.8%. The mining sector contributed 71.1% to GDP growth and accounted for about 95% of total exports of goods and services by value. Mining companies invested about \$131 million in exploration activities in 2024. In 2023 (the latest year for which data were available), the mining sector generated about \$5.6 billion in revenue to the Government and accounted for 20% of employment. Congo (Kinshasa)’s exports of goods to the United States were valued at \$323 million in 2024. Copper and articles thereof accounted for about 92% of these exports, which were valued at \$296 million. Other mineral-related exports to the United States included natural gem-quality diamond and gemstones. In 2024, the U.S. reliance on net imports of critical minerals from the Congo (Kinshasa) included 12% each of niobium (ores and concentrates) and tantalum (ores and concentrates). China remained one of Congo (Kinshasa)’s principal export partners in 2024, receiving major shares of copper and cobalt.
The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Congo (Kinshasa) is provided by the Mining Code, law No. 007 of 2002 as amended and supplemented by law No. 18/001 of 2018. This law is implemented through Decree No. 038/2003 of 2003 as amended and supplemented by Decree No. 18/024 of 2018, along with various ministerial and interministerial orders. The Ministère des Mines (Ministry of Mines) is responsible for implementing the national mining policy and exercises regulatory authority over the sector. The extraction of minerals is carried out predominantly by private foreign companies and, to a lesser degree, artisanal miners.
