China’s Biggest Cobalt Miner Faces a Harsh New Reality in DR Congo

File photo of a worker inspecting copper cathodes at the Tenke Fungurume mine, owned by China, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Photo by Emmet LIVINGSTONE / AFP)

The world’s leading exporter of cobalt, China’s CMOC Group, may turn out to be the biggest loser under the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s new export quota policy, which is set to replace the existing moratorium on cobalt shipments beginning in mid-October.

Kinshasa decided last week to extend the export ban until October 15th before introducing, starting October 16th, a quota system to regulate the volume leaving the country. The stated goal is to limit exports to 96,600 tons for 2026 and 2027.

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by Christian Geraud Neema Byamungu

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