DRC Weighs Future of Cobalt Export Ban Ahead of September Deadline
Kinshasa, DRC — The Congolese government is expected to announce by September 21, 2025, whether it will extend, modify, or lift its current suspension of cobalt exports to the international market.
The measure, first introduced on February 22, 2025, by the Regulatory and Control Authority for Strategic Mineral Substances Markets (ARECOMS), initially imposed a four-month ban on exports of cobalt hydroxides, carbonates, white alloys, and copper-cobalt concentrates.
The suspension, which applied to all operators—industrial, semi-industrial, and artisanal— was later extended for an additional three months, citing high global stock levels.
Signed by ARECOMS Director General Patrick Mpoyi Luabeya, the decision aimed to curb excess supply on the global market and counter the steep decline in cobalt prices, which had fallen to historic lows of $21,000–$22,000 per tonne.
A commission under ARECOMS is currently reviewing the ban’s impact and will make recommendations on whether to extend, adjust, or lift the measure.
In the Congolese mining sector, the suspension has disrupted operations. Glencore warned of potentially massive unsold stockpiles by year-end, as production remains stuck in-country. While immediate financial damage is partly cushioned by prior inventories, the ban has created significant regulatory uncertainty.
Industry observers note that proposed export quotas—intended as an alternative to the outright ban—raise questions about allocation, enforcement, and fairness among operators.
Globally, the measure initially triggered a temporary spike in cobalt prices, particularly in China. However, the effect has since diminished as external reserves, estimated at eight to ten months of global consumption by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, helped absorb supply shocks.
The policy has split major producers. Glencore supports the introduction of quotas, while CMOC, the world’s largest cobalt producer, has called for a complete lifting of the ban.
Analysts stress that because cobalt is produced as a by-product of copper, the DRC faces structural limits in restricting cobalt output without also constraining copper production—a move that could have broader economic repercussions.
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