DRC: Government Sets Strict Schedule for Resumption of Cobalt Exports

Kinshasa, November 20, 2025 - The Congolese government has announced the imminent resumption of cobalt exports, following a suspension that began on February 22, 2025 and was extended until October 15, 2025. The temporary halt had been imposed to address a price collapse caused by overproduction in the global market.

Effective October 16, 2025, the government lifted the ban and implemented a quota system, allowing the export of 18,125 tons of cobalt by the end of the year. The allocation is 3,625 tons for October, and 7,250 tons each for November and December.

Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, confirmed that exports will resume from November 27, 2025, emphasizing that the new policy-including an annual ceiling of 96,600 tons starting in 2026-is designed to protect national revenues, stabilize international prices, and strengthen the DRC’s sovereignty over this strategic mineral resource.

The government’s move underscores the DRC’s commitment to responsible resource management while supporting the stability of the global cobalt market, a critical input for electric vehicles and high-tech batteries.