KCM Smelter Shutdown Raises Copper Concentrate Export Pressure

Published: Jun 5, 2026 09:05

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Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), owned by Vedanta, has started a 60-day maintenance shutdown at its Nchanga copper smelter. The outage is expected to increase concentrate inventories and may lead to higher export volumes during the maintenance period. Industry participants see the shutdown as one reason behind Zambia’s recent extension of duty-free concentrate exports. The development could influence regional concentrate flows and treatment charge dynamics.

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