D.R. Congo Allows Cobalt Miners to Retain 2025 Export Quotas Amid Delays

The Democratic Republic of Congo has moved to ease pressure on cobalt producers by confirming that mining companies will be allowed to retain their allocated 2025 export quotas, despite ongoing delays in resuming shipments under a newly introduced quota regime. The decision is intended to limit operational and financial disruption for miners as the country finalises export procedures for one of the world’s most strategically important battery metals.

Cobalt exports from the DRC were suspended in February 2025 as authorities introduced a quota system designed to curb oversupply and stabilise prices. While miners had initially expected shipments to resume by mid October, implementation of the new procedures has taken longer than anticipated. Regulators have now confirmed that any unused 2025 quotas may be carried forward into 2026, ensuring that companies are not penalised for delays that are largely administrative in nature.

The DRC, which accounts for roughly 75 percent of global cobalt production, introduced the quota system in response to prolonged price weakness caused by excess supply. Since the export ban, market conditions have shifted dramatically. Benchmark cobalt prices have more than doubled, while cobalt hydroxide prices, a key feedstock for battery production, have reportedly quadrupled since February. These sharp price increases underline the country’s influence over global cobalt markets and the sensitivity of supply chains to policy changes in the DRC.

Regulatory oversight of the new system is being led by ARECOMS, which is currently testing export procedures with a pilot group of mining companies. Authorities say this testing phase is nearing completion and that all necessary measures are being taken to allow shipments to resume in an orderly manner. Only around 18,000 tonnes of cobalt were permitted for export toward the end of this year, highlighting how constrained supply has become under the new framework.

Looking ahead, the DRC has set annual export quotas for 2026 and 2027 at levels below half of 2024 production, signalling a sustained effort to manage supply over the medium term. For Africa’s mining industry, this policy approach reinforces the growing trend of resource rich countries asserting greater control over critical mineral markets. While quota stability offers some reassurance to miners, prolonged tight supply could accelerate investment in alternative sources, recycling, and substitution. For the DRC, balancing price support with long term competitiveness will be critical as global demand for cobalt continues to be shaped by electric vehicles, energy storage, and evolving battery technologies.

Mini-Glossary

• Export quota: A government set limit on the amount of a commodity that can be exported within a given period.
• Cobalt hydroxide: An intermediate cobalt product widely used in the manufacture of battery materials.
• Benchmark price: A reference price used to track market movements for a commodity.
• Oversupply: A situation where production exceeds demand, often leading to lower prices.
• Regulatory framework: The set of rules and procedures governing an industry or activity.

Editor: Vural Burç ÇAKIR