The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is planning to replace its cobalt export ban with an annual quota system, effective from 16 October 2025. 

The DRC’s mining regulator will permit miners to export up to 18,125 tonnes (t) of cobalt for the remainder of 2025, followed by annual quotas of 96,600t for both 2026 and 2027. 

The DRC, which accounted for around 70% of global cobalt production last year, imposed the export ban in February 2023 after cobalt prices fell to a nine-year low, reported Reuters. 

The ban was extended in June this year, leading to force majeure declarations from key producers such as Swiss miner Glencore and China-based CMOC Group. 

According to the report, the large-scale unregulated artisanal mining sector in the DRC plays a significant role in the production of cobalt, a critical material for electric batteries. 

Unregulated mining poses challenges for traceability and compliance for international buyers. 

The shift to a quota is said to address the rising conflict in eastern Congo, where the government asserts that illegal mining contributes to violence involving M23 rebels. 

The new quota system aims to manage inventories and stabilise prices. 

This system has received support from Glencore but faces opposition from CMOC, reported Reuters, citing sources. 

In May 2025, CMOC was reported to have requested that the DRC lift a ban on exports of the battery metal, which was due to expire the following month. 

Traders from Glencore stated that a stable price is needed before the export ban is lifted, and cobalt-producing countries like the DRC and Indonesia need to manage oversupply. 

According to the DRC's Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets, quotas will be determined based on historical exports of cobalt. 

The regulator announced that 10% of the future export volumes will be used for national strategic projects, and the quotas may be adjusted depending on market conditions or advancements in local refining capabilities. 

Additionally, the regulator has the authority to repurchase cobalt stocks that exceed the quarterly quotas assigned to individual companies, said the news agency. 

Glencore is said to be in discussions to sell a majority stake in the Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) in the DRC, according to Bloomberg. 

KCC, which operates a major copper and cobalt project in the DRC, has faced operational challenges and a royalty-related dispute with the Congolese Government, amid a slump in cobalt prices.