Burundi’s mineral exports overtake tea, coffee in hard currency earnings

Burundi’s gold, tin and rare earth minerals exports have overtaken tea and coffee as the major source of foreign exchange for the East African nation, the ministry of mining said. The mining sector in the tiny, landlocked economy was thrust into prominence last month when the United States said it was one of those it was considering to diversify its sources of rare earths following a trade spat with China.