The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has introduced tougher regulations on cobalt exports by reclaiming unused export quotas, a move aimed at strengthening government control over one of the world’s most valuable critical minerals.
Under a directive issued by the country’s strategic minerals regulator, ARECOMS, export quotas allocated for the first half of 2026 that remain unused after June 30 will automatically expire and be transferred to a government-controlled strategic quota.
The new policy bars mining companies from rolling over unused export allocations into the next quota period. Instead, those volumes will be reassigned to projects considered to be of national importance, particularly those focused on expanding domestic mineral processing, increasing value addition, and supporting the country’s long-term economic development.
In addition, ARECOMS has tightened export requirements by stating that only cobalt shipments declared through the customs system by July 5 will qualify under the first-half export quotas. The measures officially came into effect on July 1.
Mining companies also risk losing future export quotas if they repeatedly fail to utilize their allocations, transfer quotas without approval, process unauthorized third-party or artisanal cobalt, or violate other regulatory conditions.
The DRC produces more than 70% of the world’s cobalt, making it the largest supplier of the mineral, which is widely used in electric vehicle batteries, energy storage technologies, aerospace manufacturing, and other advanced industrial applications.
The latest measures build on earlier government interventions introduced to address a prolonged oversupply that had driven cobalt prices sharply lower. After temporarily suspending exports, authorities later adopted a quota system to better regulate shipments and stabilize the market.
Since tighter export controls were introduced, global cobalt prices have increased by approximately 160% since February 2025, supported by reduced supplies reaching international markets.
By bringing unused export quotas under state control, the Congolese government gains greater flexibility to prioritize exports linked to companies investing in local refining and downstream processing, in line with its broader industrial policy.
The country’s mining industry is dominated by major international companies, including CMOC, Glencore, Eurasian Resources Group, and Huayou Cobalt. CMOC has recently become the world’s largest cobalt producer, underscoring China’s expanding influence in the global cobalt supply chain.
The policy also mirrors a wider trend among resource-rich African nations such as Zimbabwe and Namibia, which are introducing measures to encourage domestic processing of critical minerals as part of broader industrialisation and economic development strategies.
