How much cobalt does DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) produce and export?
DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) is the largest producer of cobalt: 230,000 tonnes in 2025, 74% of the world's 310,000 tonnes (USGS MCS). It is the largest exporter by value: $3.1 billion in 2024, 65% of world exports of unwrought cobalt and mattes (HS 810520) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 99% of its cobalt exports by value.
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DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)'s cobalt production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 230,000 tonnes | 74% | — | 2025 |
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, MCS 2026.
DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)'s cobalt exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.1 billion | 65% | 635,046 t | $4,804 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 810520 (Cobalt mattes, unwrought cobalt and powders).
Where DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)'s cobalt goes
| Destination | Value | Share of DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)'s exports |
|---|---|---|
| China | $3.0B | 99% |
| South Korea | $27M | 0.9% |
| Belgium | $4M | 0.1% |
| Turkey (Türkiye) | $10 | <0.1% |
The cobalt price DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 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, "DR Congo cobalt: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/COD/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.