DRC Extends Cobalt Export Quotas to Support Producers After 2025 Export Delays
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has extended the validity of cobalt export quotas for the last quarter of 2025 until March 31, 2026.
The announcement was made by the Congolese regulator in a press release dated December 28, 2025.
The extension comes in response to difficulties experienced by producers during the resumption of exports following the February 2025 embargo on cobalt, a strategic metal for the electric vehicle battery industry.
Although the ban was lifted in October 2025 and replaced with a quota system, many producers were unable to ship their allocated volumes before year-end due to administrative and logistical bottlenecks.
Under the original scheme, a total of 18,125 tonnes of cobalt was scheduled for export between October and December 2025.
Because the framework did not initially allow for unused quotas to be carried over, companies faced the risk of losing their allocations.
Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba confirmed that cobalt exports have resumed, but did not disclose the specific volumes or companies involved.
CMOC, one of the country’s main producers, reported holding a quota of 6,650 tonnes for the fourth quarter of 2025 and expects the first shipments to leave Congolese ports in January 2026 after completing technical checks and customs formalities.
While the quota extension alleviates uncertainty over unused 2025 volumes, it also underscores the ongoing challenges for Congolese authorities in implementing the new regulatory framework. The government will need to ensure consistent enforcement in a cobalt market characterized by high volatility.
The February 2025 embargo, set against a backdrop of global oversupply, contributed to a significant rise in cobalt prices.
However, extended restrictions on Congolese supply may accelerate manufacturers’ efforts to substitute cobalt with alternative metals in electric battery production, a factor the government must now consider in its strategic planning.
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