The total value of contracts reported by major companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo fell sharply in 2025, according to a statistical report by the Authority for the Regulation of Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP), covering the 2023–2025 period.

After reaching $2.456 billion in 2024, the total dropped to $1.713 billion in 2025, a decline of about 30.2%. The $743 million contraction marks a reversal after growth between 2023 and 2024, when reported contracts rose from $2.001 billion to $2.456 billion.

The mining provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga were the most affected. In Lualaba, reported contracts fell from $1.718 billion to $943.4 million in 2025, a drop of about 45%. In Haut-Katanga, they declined from $403 million to $246.6 million, down nearly 39%.

Diverging trends among major clients

The overall decline was uneven across key operators. Kamoa Copper showed a sharp break in the data. After reported contracts rose from $262.9 million in 2023 to $646 million in 2024, the figure fell to just $696,231 in 2025.

Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) also recorded a steep decline, with reported contracts dropping from $419 million in 2024 to $196 million in 2025, a fall of about 53%.

The report does not indicate whether these declines reflect reduced activity, underreporting, or data issues.

By contrast, Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM), one of the country’s major clients, posted growth, with reported contracts rising from $296.2 million in 2024 to $476.8 million in 2025, an increase of about 61%.

Sicomines also expanded its activity, with contracts increasing from $510.8 million to $627.1 million, up around 23%. Several subcontractors followed the trend. CRSN Construction Minière saw contracts rise from $224.4 million to $245.4 million, while Nenda Mbele SAS increased from $1.6 million to $7.7 million.

The data points to a widening gap among major operators. In 2025, TFM and Sicomines increased their reported volumes, while Kamoa and KCC posted sharp declines.

The report suggests the trend reflects not a uniform downturn in mining subcontracting, but a market shaped by variations in reporting practices, investment cycles and contract structures across companies.

Boaz Kabeya