Zimbabwe’s mineral exporters are grappling with rising logistics costs as persistent weaknesses in the national rail system force much of the country’s bulk cargo, including coal, onto far more expensive road transport, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) states that this shift is steadily eroding the competitiveness of local producers in international markets.
Commodities that depend on the efficient movement of large tonnages are feeling the greatest strain.
With the rail network unable to carry sufficient volumes, exporters have little option but to rely on long-haul trucking, a move that sharply increases the delivered cost of their minerals.
Speaking after the corporation’s annual general meeting last week, MMCZ marketing manager Mr Gumisai Nenzou said transport bottlenecks were weakening the viability of shipments destined for overseas buyers.
He noted that low-value, high-volume minerals are most exposed to these rising logistics pressures.
“We see this as a challenge, especially when we look at low-value commodities such as coal and chrome. We have a lot of overseas markets that are looking for these products, but because of the challenges with our infrastructure to move the required volumes, that places us at a competitive disadvantage when we look at logistics costs,” Nenzou said.
He added that heavy reliance on road transport complicates compliance with strict maritime loading schedules.
Trucks often struggle to meet tight vessel turnaround times at ports such as Beira, increasing the risk of missed loading windows. When this happens, exporters face penalties for unutilised cargo space, further squeezing margins.
Zimbabwe’s rail problems stem from decades of underinvestment and operational decline at the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
However, efforts to rebuild the system are underway.
The NRZ has secured a US$115 million Afreximbank loan for new locomotives and, in September 2025, signed a US$533 million agreement with China Railway International Group (CRIG) to modernise and rehabilitate key corridors.
Current projects include lifting speed restrictions and upgrading the Pachipanda–Mutare and Chikwalakwala lines.
In line with the government’s push to restore rail capacity, coal producers in Hwange have also begun acting on a directive to help revitalise NRZ infrastructure.
Plans are now in progress to refurbish the strategic railway line linking the Hwange coalfields to domestic and regional markets, a move expected to ease pressure on the roads and improve coal evacuation efficiency, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
Despite these logistical challenges, Zimbabwe’s mineral exports remained resilient during the first nine months of the year.
Volumes rose 45 per cent above budget to reach 3.84 million tonnes, while export earnings edged up to US$2.6 billion—a slight 0.7 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Platinum group metals (PGMs) continued to dominate export earnings, contributing more than US$1.22 billion, boosted by improved processing and a 54.5 per cent surge in prices.
Ferrochrome exports also strengthened, reaching 328,442 tonnes worth US$272.8 million, supported by firm Asian demand. Coke exports added US$142.6 million.
Lithium remained one of the fastest-growing export categories, though producers faced weaker global prices. Spodumene shipments reached one million tonnes, a 27 per cent rise in volume, while export earnings fell 11 per cent to US$386.9 million due to softening international markets.
