At a Glance
- Congo replaces cobalt export ban with quotas to stabilize global supply.
- New limits cap 2025 exports at 18,125 tons; annual quotas set for 2026-2027.
- Move splits major miners as EV demand for cobalt keeps rising.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, the world’s largest supplier of cobalt, is scrapping its export ban and shifting to a quota system aimed at stabilizing global supply and prices of the key battery metal used in electric vehicles. The new rules take effect October 16, according to the country’s mining regulator.
Under the plan, miners will be allowed to ship a maximum of 18,125 tons of cobalt for the remainder of 2025, with annual caps set at 96,600 tons in both 2026 and 2027, the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets said.
Export Limits Aim to Support Cobalt Prices
Congo accounts for nearly 70% of the world’s cobalt production, making it critical to the electric vehicle supply chain.
The country suspended exports earlier this year after cobalt prices slumped to a nine-year low, extending the ban in June and triggering force majeure declarations from producers including Glencore and China’s CMOC Group.
The quota system is designed to prevent stockpiles from overwhelming the market and to give producers a clearer pricing floor. Quotas will be allocated based on historical exports, with 10% of future volumes reserved for Congolese state-backed projects.
Refining capacity to guide Congo’s cobalt limits
The regulator also retained the right to revise quotas depending on market conditions or progress in local refining capacity.
Congo’s mining sector has long faced scrutiny over its largely unregulated artisanal operations, which contribute a significant share of cobalt output but complicate supply chain traceability for global buyers.
The government says illegal mining and smuggling are also helping to fuel violence by M23 rebels in the country’s east.
Export quotas reshape stakes in EV transition
The move is dividing major industry players. Glencore has endorsed the quota system as a step toward stabilizing cobalt markets, while CMOC has warned it could restrict global flows.
The regulator added it may buy back excess inventories from companies that breach quarterly limits, underscoring its effort to support cobalt prices at a time when battery demand is set to climb.
Congo’s shift from an outright export ban to quotas underscores its leverage in critical minerals, with implications for electric vehicle manufacturers, battery makers, and the broader energy transition.
