DRC’s Cobalt Quota Raises Uncertainty for Chinese Producers

Graph via Caixin

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s new cobalt export quotas are set to go live on 16 October. The measure replaces a blanket export ban aimed at increasing global cobalt prices. Before the ban in February, global stockpiles had reached 60,000 tons (enough for three months’ worth of global supply) with prices at historical lows.


Prices have crept up since then, but the ban hit producers badly, with several declaring force majeure on cobalt deliveries. The ban also didn’t deliver on the DRC’s own revenue targets, barely hitting half of the goal and widening government deficits.

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by CGSP Staff

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