How much cobalt does China produce and export?
China is the nullth largest producer of cobalt: 2,000 tonnes in 2025, 0.6% of the world's 310,000 tonnes (USGS MCS). It is the 3rd largest exporter by value: $166.1 million in 2024, 3.5% of world exports of unwrought cobalt and mattes (HS 810520) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is the Netherlands, which takes 23% of its cobalt exports by value.
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China's cobalt production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 tonnes | 0.6% | — | 2025 |
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, MCS 2026.
China's cobalt exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $166.1 million | 3.5% | 5,365 t | $30,969 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 810520 (Cobalt mattes, unwrought cobalt and powders).
Where China's cobalt goes
| Destination | Value | Share of China's exports |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $38M | 23% |
| United States | $27M | 16% |
| United Kingdom | $21M | 13% |
| South Korea | $15M | 8.9% |
| Japan | $14M | 8.2% |
China as a buyer of cobalt
China imported $3.2 billion of unwrought cobalt and mattes (HS 810520) in 2024, 68% of world imports, ranked #1. Of its $3.2 billion of cobalt imports in 2024, 93% came from DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and 1% from the Philippines, among 30 suppliers. Largest sources: DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (93%), Philippines (1.3%), Malaysia (1.3%), Canada (1.1%), Russia (0.8%).
The cobalt price China sells into
The benchmark price, Cobalt, 99.8% minimum purity, LME spot, was $55,854/t in August 2026, up 70% over twelve months. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Cobalt price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "China cobalt: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/CHN/cobalt/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.