The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the world’s largest cobalt producer, is considering imposing stringent export curbs on the metal after its current four-month export ban concludes, reported Reuters.

The DRC temporarily suspended cobalt exports for at least four months in February 2025 in response to an oversupply in the market.

The Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances' Markets President Patrick Luabeya announced the potential restrictions at a conference in Singapore, citing high domestic and global stockpiles that have suppressed prices.

Despite significant reductions in cobalt stockpiles, Luabeya stated that the excess supply continues to depress market prices.

The agency's next move “will inevitably imply a strict limitation of exports in whole or in part until market balance is reached with regard to the supply and demand of cobalt", he explained.

The agency plans to engage with industry stakeholders in June to discuss the export ban.

Mines Minister Kizito Pakabomba previously noted that the ban is under review, without providing specific details.

The country is in discussions with key industry players including Glencore, ERG and CMOC regarding the future of its export policy.

In February 2025, the DRC initiated a state monopoly to oversee the production and export of artisanal cobalt.

The following month, the Prime Minister of the DRC expressed the country's intention to implement export quotas on cobalt following the ban.

Additionally, there are plans to collaborate with Indonesia, another significant cobalt producer, to manage the global supply and pricing of the metal.

Cobalt demand, excluding government stockpiling, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7%, reaching 400,000 tonnes by the early 2030s, primarily driven by the expansion of the electric vehicle market.