Congo Tightens Control of Cobalt Exports in New Rules Aimed at Reshaping Global Supply

The Democratic Republic of Congo has introduced a new set of export conditions designed to tighten its grip on the global cobalt market, marking one of its most assertive policy shifts in recent years. The move, outlined in an exclusive Reuters report, further consolidates state control over the world’s most important supply of the battery metal used in electric vehicles, smartphones and renewable-energy storage.

Congo, which accounts for over two-thirds of global cobalt output, has spent much of 2025 recalibrating how it exports the mineral. Earlier in the year, Kinshasa imposed a temporary export ban to curb oversupply and stabilise falling prices. That ban later evolved into a quota system that restricted how much mining companies could ship each quarter.

The latest rules go even further. Exporters must now secure a new “Quota Verification Certificate” before any shipment is approved. Congo’s strategic minerals regulator issues the certificate and serves as proof that a company’s exports fall within the national quota. Shipments will also undergo stricter, multi-agency inspections, including weighing, sealing, sampling and on-site verification — steps the government says are necessary to remove loopholes and stop illicit flows.

A significant new requirement is the compulsory pre-payment of a 10% mining royalty within 48 hours of filing export declarations. Authorities say this will ensure the state captures value up front and avoids prolonged disputes over royalty calculations.

These changes have contributed to a standstill in shipments as companies scramble to adapt to the new compliance rules. Since the measures came into force, no major cobalt cargoes have left the country, tightening global supply. Prices have jumped sharply from the lows recorded early in the year, reflecting market anxiety over how long the pause could last.

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For mining giants such as Glencore and China’s CMOC Group, which operate some of Congo’s most significant cobalt and copper projects, the new system introduces an extra layer of bureaucracy but also signals a new era: one in which the Congolese state intends to dictate not only how much is produced, but how and when it reaches global buyers.

Beyond the immediate supply shock, the strategy points to broader ambitions. The government has been vocal about repositioning Congo from a raw-material supplier to a more powerful player in global battery value chains. As part of this push, the state-owned mining company Gécamines recently signed a partnership with commodities trader Mercuria to market critical minerals jointly. Officials say the deal is meant to streamline sales, reduce opacity and give Congo greater leverage in price negotiations.

Industry analysts warn that the combination of quota limits, stricter oversight and administrative slowdowns could create ongoing volatility. Battery manufacturers, already under pressure from fluctuating lithium and nickel markets, now face another layer of uncertainty in a sector heavily dependent on Congolese cobalt.

Still, Congo appears determined. Officials argue that the new rules are essential to combat smuggling, improve revenue capture, and ensure that the country’s mineral wealth translates into national development. For global markets, the message is just as clear: Congo intends to play a decisive role in shaping the future of battery-metal supply, and the world will have to adjust to its terms.

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