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Cobalt
Follow Cobalt on My deskMiningBridge Indicative Price
Free public sources, with source and period. Indicative only - not a trading price, not an offer, not advice. "Not published" means no free, current price exists; MiningBridge does not copy paid prices.
| Product | Price | Source and period | Freshness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refined Cobalt Metal (Cathode/Ingot 99.8% min) | Not published $/MT | No free current source Background only: USGS 2025 annual average: $46,297 $/MT (yearly average, not a current price) | - |
| Cobalt Hydroxide (Co 30% min payable CIF China) | Not published $/DMT | No free current source Background only: USGS 2025 annual average: $10,371 $/DMT (yearly average, not a current price) | - |
- Largest producer
- Democratic Republic of the Congo 73%
- Concentration (HHI)
- 5,562
- Producing countries
- 13
- Export measures
- 2
Global Production by Country
USGS MCS 2026 ground truthTop producing jurisdictions, annual metric output (metric tons), and modeled global production shares.
| Country | Production (metric tons) | Global Share |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 230,000 | 73.1% |
| Indonesia | 44,000 | 14.0% |
| Other producers | 9,100 | 2.9% |
| Russia | 7,700 | 2.4% |
| Madagascar | 3,900 | 1.2% |
| Australia | 3,700 | 1.2% |
| Philippines | 3,700 | 1.2% |
| Canada | 3,500 | 1.1% |
| Papua New Guinea | 2,800 | 0.9% |
| China | 2,000 | 0.6% |
| Cuba | 2,000 | 0.6% |
| Turkey | 1,900 | 0.6% |
| United States | 300 | 0.1% |
Export Controls & Trade Restrictions
2 Active Sovereign MeasuresStatutory export bans, quotas, and licensing regimes documented by the USGS (effective January 2026) and national trade ministries affecting physical cobalt trade corridors.
Namibia maintains an export ban covering Ores and concentrates of cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and rare earths (2023), as compiled by the USGS from official and reported sources effective January 2026.
Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains an export quota covering Cobalt (2025), as compiled by the USGS from official and reported sources effective January 2026.
Research
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Analytics for cobalt
Opens with Cobalt Hydroxide (Co(OH)₂, 32% Co Content) selected and its usual route suggested: CFB Benguela Railway to Lobito Port (Angola) + Atlantic Ocean to Antwerp.
Sale price: not published. Every input can be changed. Illustrative calculation, not advice.
Open Trade Desk for cobalt →- Supply shocks & export rules →Take out a producer or apply a quota; see concentration and supply move.
- Processing economics →Grade, recovery and costs from feed to margin.
- By-products & tailings →What is left in a residue and what it could be worth.
- Mine closure →Rehabilitation liability and when it falls due.
- Haulage & carbon →Freight cost and emissions by route and mode.
- Smelter catchments →Which mines can feed a plant, or which plants can take your concentrate.
- Secondary recovery →Critical minerals in red mud, slag, fly ash and tailings, and who holds them.
Ask Victoria
Victoria answers from MiningBridge’s public research and cites her sources.
“What are the main supply risks and price drivers for cobalt right now, and which countries matter most?”
Ask this question →Supply map
Open the supply model →Frequently Asked Questions: Cobalt
Sourced & EmpiricalEmpirical intelligence on cobalt production concentration, sovereign trade controls, and import reliance.
How concentrated is global mine production of cobalt?▼
Global cobalt extraction is highly concentrated with a Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) of 5,562. The leading producer is Democratic Republic of the Congo, representing 73% of global mine output, with 13 countries reporting commercial production, based on USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries (MCS 2026).
Which jurisdictions enforce export controls or bans on cobalt?▼
There are 2 documented sovereign export control regimes affecting cobalt trade corridors: Namibia (Namibia maintains an export ban covering Ores and concentrates of cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and rare earths (2023), as compiled by the USGS from official and reported sources effective January 2026.); Democratic Republic of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains an export quota covering Cobalt (2025), as compiled by the USGS from official and reported sources effective January 2026.).
What is the net import reliance and critical supply vulnerability for cobalt?▼
US net import reliance for cobalt is recorded at 79%, with primary foreign supply originating from Norway, Finland, Canada, Japan. It is classified as an essential strategic mineral across US and Indian criticality lists.