The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will ease its cobalt export ban on 15 October 2025, replacing it with a quota regime, according to the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets (ARECOMS).
• Miners may export 18,000 tons of cobalt for the remainder of 2025.
• From 2026–2027, annual quotas will be capped at 96,600 tons.
• 10% of quotas will be reserved for projects of national strategic importance.
ARECOMS President Patrick Luabeya said the policy aims to reduce global inventories and stabilise prices. The DRC, which supplied nearly 220,000 tons in 2024 and accounts for three-quarters of global cobalt output, is seeking to align supply with demand.
Analysts caution that strict controls could accelerate a shift to cobalt-free EV batteries, potentially reshaping the global supply chain.
Source: Bloomberg
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