African Copper Exports Disrupted
African copper shipments to China are being disrupted due to the temporary closure of a crucial exporting port in Tanzania following election unrest.
Copper traders and producers in the central Africa copperbelt are seeking to reroute cargoes from the Port of Dar es Salaam, leading to congestion at other ports, including Durban in South Africa.
- The port closure has resulted in copper already delivered to the port being stuck there.
- The Port of Dar es Salaam is a key hub for the copper and cobalt trade from mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to China.
- China consumes more than half of the world's copper production.
The Port of Dar es Salaam is the heart of the copper and cobalt trade.
Author's summary: African copper exports to China are disrupted due to port closure.