Angola’s Lobito Port Sends First Copper Shipment from DRC to the U.S.

Angola’s Lobito port has dispatched its inaugural shipment of copper from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the United States this week, marking a significant milestone for the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR). This shipment follows earlier exports to ports in Europe and Southeast Asia since LAR took control of the concession in January, global trading firm Trafigura, a joint venture partner in the LAR, announced today.

The cargo of copper cathodes, destined for Baltimore, left Kolwezi— the DRC’s copper mining hub— and arrived in Lobito on August 19, just six days after being dispatched by train via the LAR. This efficient transit time highlights the strategic potential of this western route for transporting minerals and metals from the resource-rich Congolese copperbelt, Trafigura noted.

The LAR, a 1,300-kilometer trading corridor, connects the Atlantic coast of Angola with Africa’s copperbelt, a region abundant in copper and cobalt reserves. This new route offers a vital alternative to the previously underdeveloped road networks, facilitating more reliable access to global markets for these essential minerals.

The Lobito railway is the product of a $450 million joint venture involving Trafigura, Portuguese infrastructure firm Mota-Engil, and South African rail operator Vecturis. While this development represents a significant step forward, some traders have raised concerns about the long-term viability of the route, citing challenges related to maintenance and the port’s capacity to handle large volumes of freight.

Trafigura has been exporting copper and cobalt from the DRC to ports on the Indian Ocean, such as Durban in South Africa and Beira in Mozambique, but the successful use of the Lobito route to reach the Atlantic marks a new chapter in the company's logistical capabilities.