The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will lift its ban on cobalt exports from October 16 and manage global supply through annual export quotas, the country’s strategic minerals regulator announced on Sunday.
Miners will be allowed to ship up to 18,125 tonnes of cobalt for the remainder of 2025, with annual caps of 96,600 tonnes in 2026 and 2027, the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets said.
Congo, which produced about 70% of global cobalt output last year, suspended exports in February after prices fell to a nine-year low. The ban was extended in June, prompting force majeure declarations from major producers including Glencore and China’s CMOC Group.
The country’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.
The new system, backed by Glencore but opposed by CMOC, aims to reduce inventories and support prices. Quotas will be allocated based on historical exports of the critical electric battery material.
Glencore declined to comment, and CMOC was not immediately available for comment.
The regulator stated that 10% of future cobalt volumes will be reserved for strategic national projects, and quotas could be revised based on market conditions or progress in local refining.
Additionally, the regulator may buy back cobalt stocks exceeding quarterly authorized quotas per company, according to a statement signed by its chairman.
