Two Chinese companies have quietly struck gold—quite literally—beneath Serbian soil.
In 2024 alone, Zijin Mining and Zijin Copper, subsidiaries of China’s mining titan Zijin, amassed a combined net profit nearing €1 billion from operations in Serbia.
The lion’s share came from Zijin Mining, with an eye-watering €715 million in profit, while Zijin Copper contributed a hefty €252 million.
In stark contrast, Serbia’s next-largest mining earner, Rudnik Lece, posted a comparatively modest €14 million.
Together, the Zijin duo is set to distribute 45 billion dinars in dividends—a figure that underscores the scale of foreign gain from Serbia’s mineral wealth.
As Serbia pivots towards mining as a pillar of economic growth, its vast reserves—copper, gold, lead, zinc, lignite, and the increasingly coveted lithium—are drawing not just Chinese investment, but also strategic interest from Germany and the broader EU.
The race for Serbia’s critical minerals has begun—and Beijing is already a step ahead.
