In 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) saw a dramatic rise in zinc production, with a 380% year-on-year increase, according to reports. Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines reported producing 77,147 tonnes of zinc in the third quarter at its Kipushi mine in the DRC, a new record for the project. This level of output has positioned the Kipushi mine as the third largest among the world's ten largest zinc mines, according to the company. Overall, the DRC's zinc production reached 209,306 tonnes in 2025, with 203,168 tonnes coming from Kipushi. This increase includes the contribution of the Lubumbashi Heap Society (STL), which recovers zinc from industrial waste. The DRC has long been one of Africa’s key zinc producers, alongside countries like South Africa, Namibia, and Morocco. However, the start of production at Kipushi by Ivanhoe Mines in June 2024 marked a significant jump in Congolese zinc output. National production rose from 15,305 tonnes in 2020 to 43,590 tonnes in 2024, and the 2025 numbers confirmed this upward trend, reaching a total of 209,306 tonnes. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), China remains the world's largest producer of zinc, extracting about 4.1 million tonnes in 2025, out of an estimated global total of 13 million tonnes. Peru is second with 1.5 million tonnes, followed by Australia with 1.1 million tonnes. The other four largest producers are India, Mexico, the United States, and Bolivia. All ten countries listed by the USGS in its ranking are outside Africa, while an unlisted group of producers collectively accounted for 2 million tonnes. Although the DRC has made significant progress, it still lags behind the top global producers. However, its 2025 output of 209,306 tonnes is close to the 230,000 tonnes attributed to Sweden, which ranks tenth globally. Ivanhoe Mines aims to boost production further, targeting up to 290,000 tonnes of zinc at Kipushi in 2026. If this goal is achieved, combined with the activities of STL, the DRC’s zinc production could rise significantly and have a greater impact on the global supply. In the long term, the DRC’s future in zinc production will depend largely on Ivanhoe Mines’ ability to maintain Kipushi’s performance and on the Congolese government’s success in attracting new investments. Exploration efforts, such as the national geological mapping campaign PC2G-RDC, aim to enhance understanding of the country's mineral resources. This growth in production also presents new commercial opportunities for the Congolese mining sector, especially as zinc prices have risen by about 23% over the past year due to ongoing supply challenges.