The Democratic Republic of Congo, the world's leading cobalt supplier, has extended its export ban on cobalt for three months, as announced by the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances' Markets (ARECOMS) on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The measure aims to address the ongoing oversupply of cobalt, a key material used in electric vehicle batteries.

An artisanal miner carries raw ore at Tilwizembe, a former industrial copper-cobalt mine, outside of Kolwezi, the capital city of Lualaba Province in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The initial four-month export suspension, introduced in February 2025, followed a significant price drop to $10 per pound, the lowest in nine years. Originally set to end on Sunday, June 22, 2025, the ban has been prolonged due to persistent high stock levels. ARECOMS stated: "The decision has been taken to extend the temporary suspension due to the continued high level of stock on the market."

ARECOMS plans to review the situation before the new deadline in September 2025, when it will decide whether to adjust, extend, or lift the suspension. Congolese authorities are also exploring options to allocate cobalt export quotas among mining companies to manage shipments effectively.

The quota proposal has received support from some mining firms, including Glencore, the second-largest cobalt producer globally. However, CMOC Group, the leading producer, has expressed a preference for lifting the export ban, highlighting differing perspectives among key industry players.

This extension reflects ongoing efforts to stabilize cobalt supply and market conditions while ensuring fair distribution among producers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.