By Nyasha Chuma
HARARE – The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe posted mixed results for Q1 2026, with coal and coke exports delivering strong growth while ferrochrome and diamond sales declined year-on-year,Express Mail Zim can report.
Coal and coke exports led the quarter, with total sales reaching 491,318 metric tonnes valued at US$50.77 million. This represented a 30% increase in volume against the 378,355 metric tonnes recorded in Q1 2025.
“Coal and coke exports delivered a strong volume performance in Q1 2026… The growth in volumes was driven by sustained regional demand, particularly from the Republic of South Africa, affirming Zimbabwe’s position as a reliable and competitive supplier of coal and coke products to the region,” MMCZ said.
Combined high carbon ferrochrome and low carbon ferrochrome sales fell to 67,405 metric tonnes valued at US$65.81 million, down 28% in volume and 8% in value from Q1 2025. However, the average realised price per tonne improved due to “a more favourable product mix and resilient pricing.”
Diamond sales also declined, amounting to 784,764 carats valued at US$21.55 million, down 11% in volume and 29% in value against the same period last year. MMCZ attributed the drop to production challenges and “sustained downward pressure on natural diamond prices driven by the growing competitiveness of lab-grown diamonds in the global market.”
On the outlook, MMCZ through Pretty Musonza, said the global commodity environment entering Q2 2026 is shaped by “both significant opportunity and heightened uncertainty,” noting that the USA-Iran conflict and disruption to the Strait of Hormuz have pushed up energy costs and driven price increases of 30% to 130% for some critical minerals.
MMCZ is the state-owned enterprise mandated to market and sell all of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources, excluding gold and silver.
