Ivanhoe copper jumps 19% as Kamoa-Kakula rebounds
Ivanhoe Mines reported third quarter copper production of 76,401 tonnes in saleable products at the Kamoa-Kakula mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 19% increase over the previous quarter. Production of 68,188 tonnes of copper in concentrate was about 4% below the same period last year but 11.5% higher than the second quarter of 2026, with mining rates up 30% to more than 700,000 tonnes per month. The company maintained 2026 guidance of 290,000 to 310,000 tonnes of copper in saleable products while saying output is trending towards the lower end of that range.
Why it matters: The recovery at one of Africa's largest copper operations bears on critical minerals supply, since Ivanhoe's output trend, its 43,000 tonnes of copper in inventory and the 60%-capacity smelter determine how much copper and sulphuric acid reach the DRC Copperbelt and export markets.