Congo’s Copper and Cobalt Export Suspension Impacts Prices
The Central Bank of Congo (BCC) reported on March 19, 2025, a 3.3% decline in the price of copper per tonne compared to December 2024.
This drop is attributed to concerns over the Congolese government’s suspension of copper exports to the global market.
Since February 22, 2025, the price of copper has continued to decrease, by a 0.15% drop compared to the previous week.
The BCC noted that copper prices have fallen by 11.97% since the end of December 2024 and have seen a staggering 60% decline over the past three years.
In response, the government has temporarily suspended copper exports for four months in hopes of stabilizing and eventually raising prices.
However, copper prices saw a slight recovery in mid-March, with a 9.3% increase from the week of March 7 to March 14, 2025.
In parallel, the suspension also affected the cobalt market. On March 6, 2025, the Minister of Mines announced that cobalt prices had surged by 27% following the suspension.
The move to halt cobalt exports was announced on February 24, 2025, by the Regulatory and Control Authority for Strategic Mineral Substances Markets (ARECOMS), citing an overabundance of the metal on the market and its revaluation internationally.
In response to market volatility, the Congolese government introduced regulatory measures during the 35th Council of Ministers meeting on March 14, 2025.
These included implementing a production quota for cobalt, regulating exports, and encouraging local processing to better manage supply and ensure stable pricing.
