KINSHASA, June 29 – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will withdraw unused cobalt export quotas from mining companies and reassign them to a state-controlled entity, further strengthening government oversight of exports from the world’s largest cobalt-producing nation.
According to Reuters, citing “a notice seen by Reuters on Monday” issued by the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets (ARECOMS) and seen by African Economy Inc., all export quotas allocated for the period between January and June 2026 that remain unused by 30 June will be forfeited and automatically transferred to the regulator’s “strategic quota.”
The regulator said the reallocated export volumes will be used to support projects considered to be “national interest,” including initiatives aimed at expanding domestic mineral processing, increasing value addition and protecting the country’s broader economic interests.
The latest measures build on the government’s export management framework introduced earlier this year. In March, the DRC extended companies’ first-quarter export quotas through the end of June while simultaneously issuing second-quarter allocations as part of efforts to better regulate cobalt supply.
The DRC accounts for more than 70% of global cobalt reserves, making it the dominant supplier of a mineral that is essential for manufacturing rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles and other clean energy technologies.
The government’s export restrictions have had a significant impact on global markets. Since February 2025, international cobalt prices have climbed approximately 160%, reaching around US$26 per pound, or roughly US$57,320 per metric tonne, as tighter export controls reduced global supply.
ARECOMS also announced that companies will not be permitted to carry forward unused export allocations. Instead, any forfeited volumes will be deducted from their original quotas, effectively penalising operators that fail to ship allocated volumes within the prescribed timeframe.
In a further tightening of export procedures, the regulator said only cobalt shipments declared through the national customs system by 5 July will qualify for export under first-half quotas. The new rules will take effect on 1 July.
ARECOMS further warned that companies could lose their export quotas entirely if they fail to utilise allocated volumes, transfer quotas to third parties, process third-party or artisanal material without authorisation, or breach existing regulatory requirements.
The DRC’s mining industry is dominated by major international producers, including CMOC, Glencore, Eurasian Resources Group and Huayou Cobalt, all of which operate significant cobalt mining assets in the country.
The latest policy reflects a broader trend across Africa, where resource-rich governments are seeking greater control over strategic minerals by encouraging domestic processing, increasing local value addition and capturing a larger share of revenues generated by the global energy transition.
