Zambia is on track to produce more than 1 million tonnes of copper in 2026, a record milestone driven by expanded output from its largest Canadian-owned operations, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe has said.

Last year, Zambia posted its highest ever production of almost 890,346 tonnes, and "this year without a doubt, definitely we'll go beyond a million," Kabuswe told reporters in Lusaka in January.

Copper remains Zambia's economic backbone, accounting for roughly 70% of export earnings and forming a core pillar of GDP.

In 2025, copper prices surged nearly 50%, crossing $13,000 per tonne for the first time. Congo and Zambia, Africa's largest copper producers, are among the biggest beneficiaries of the rally.

The nation's push towards the 1 million-tonne mark reflects both improved operational performance and heavy capital reinvestment in processing capacity across key mines in the Copperbelt and North-Western Province.

Major contributors to this output increase are expansions at two of Zambia's largest copper producers. At the Kansanshi mine, a joint venture majority-owned by Canadian company First Quantum Minerals and Zambia's state miner ZCCM‑IH, a US$1.25 billion expansion has boosted throughput and stabilised production through improved processing capacity.

Meanwhile, the Lumwana copper mine owned by Canadian-based Barrick Gold is undergoing a multi-billion-dollar expansion, expected to raise annual output significantly as new facilities come online.

Zambia's government has also signalled long-term ambition beyond the 1 million-tonne milestone. Under its National Three Million Tonnes Copper Production Strategy, authorities are targeting a three-fold increase to 3 million tonnes annually by the early 2030s through a combination of brownfield expansions, greenfield projects, and artisanal mining development.

Industry analysts say hitting and exceeding 1 million tonnes will solidify Zambia's status as a key global copper supplier amid rising demand for electrification and renewable energy, while supporting foreign exchange earnings, employment, and investor confidence.