The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has yet to approve the resumption of cobalt exports, nearly six weeks after the previous shipping ban expired, leaving mining companies unable to move trucks loaded with one of the world’s most essential metals to international markets.
The DRC—responsible for roughly 75% of global cobalt output—introduced strict export quotas on October 16 to better control supply once exports restart. However, the rollout of the new system has been delayed as government agencies work to integrate the sector regulator into the export approval process and ensure the new procedures are workable.
“The implementation of this measure is subject to a delay. Government agencies must first ensure integration of ARECOMS into the export process and verify the practicality of the new procedures,” said the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets (ARECOMS).
Cobalt exports were originally suspended in February to curb oversupply and support global prices. While cobalt remains critical to electric vehicle batteries, aerospace, and defense applications, increased production from major miners such as China’s CMOC Group, alongside new output from Indonesia, has placed downward pressure on prices.
Under the new quota framework, companies will be permitted to ship just over 18,000 tonnes of cobalt for the remainder of 2025, and up to 96,600 tonnes annually in 2026 and 2027—less than half of the country’s estimated 2024 production.
Cobalt prices, which fell below $10 per pound for the first time in more than two decades, have more than doubled since February’s suspension. Meanwhile, exports of cobalt hydroxide from the DRC have surged more than fourfold.
ARECOMS said it expects to finalize the remaining steps for the restart of exports soon. “Once these adjustments have been finalized, an announcement will be made in the coming days,” the regulator stated.
In the interim, miners have continued exporting copper—often produced alongside cobalt—while stockpiling cobalt volumes.
The largest quotas have been awarded to CMOC, followed by Glencore Plc, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), and state-owned Entreprise Generale du Cobalt, which oversees artisanal cobalt production. ERG confirmed it is awaiting final regulatory guidance before resuming shipments.
Additionally, 10% of the national cobalt quota has been set aside as a “strategic quota,” which ARECOMS may allocate at its discretion.
The ongoing delays underscore the DRC’s broader effort to balance global cobalt supply, stabilize prices, and strengthen regulatory oversight of a metal that remains critical to the global clean energy transition.
