Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Sunday that they plan to lift a ban on cobalt exports from October 16 and manage the global supply by imposing annual export quotas.
According to the country’s strategic minerals regulator, Miners will be allowed to ship up to 18,125 tons of cobalt for the rest of 2025, with annual caps of 96,600 tonnes in 2026 and 2027.
Congo, which produced about 70% of global cobalt output last year, suspended exports in February after prices fell to a nine-year low. The move was extended in June, prompting force majeure declarations from major producers including Glencore and China’s CMOC Group.
Congo’s largely unregulated artisanal mining sector accounts for a significant share of cobalt output, complicating traceability and compliance for global buyers.
The move to a quota system comes amid escalating conflict in eastern Congo, where the government says illegal mineral exploitation is fueling violence by M23 rebels.
