The Democratic Republic of Congo confirms its status as an African powerhouse in tin-bearing minerals, with export revenues estimated at $677.5 million in 2025. These performances, stemming from the so-called “3T” sector – tin, tantalum, and tungsten – reflect the strategic role of these substances in the national mining economy and on the international markets for critical metals.
According to provisional statistics from the Technical Coordination and Mining Planning Unit (CTCPM), cassiterite (tin ore) stands out as the cornerstone of this dynamic. Alone, it generated $652.7 million through exports totaling 46,251.72 tonnes. Total production reached 47,787.58 tonnes, mainly driven by industrial exploitation, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the volumes.
This industrial production is led by operators active in the East of the country, including Alphamines, MMR, KMC, Crown Mining, and UC. Meanwhile, artisanal mining continues with over 14,700 tonnes produced, confirming the structural duality of the sector. It is also worth noting the emergence of tin metal exports, reflecting the initial stages of an upgrade in the value chain.
Coltan, the second component of the 3T sector, generated $23.7 million from an export volume of 1,018.11 tonnes. Annual production stands at 1,434.17 tonnes, dominated by artisanal mining at nearly 90%. This imbalance highlights the persistent challenges of formalization, traceability, and structuring of a sector essential to the global electronics industry.
Wolframite, on the other hand, remains marginal in the Congolese tin-bearing economy. Entirely sourced from artisanal mining, its production reached 213.15 tonnes, with exports limited to 94.51 tonnes, generating $1.34 million. This segment illustrates both the untapped potential and the technical constraints hindering its development.
Beyond the recorded performances, the data confirm the predominance of artisanal mining in certain branches of the sector, with the challenges this entails in terms of governance, transparency, and industrial integration.
Furthermore, as the top African producer of cassiterite, ahead of Rwanda and Nigeria, the DRC has a competitive advantage in the tin-bearing minerals segment.
