DRC Cobalt Prices Rise Sharply on International Markets as Global Demand Accelerates
Cobalt Prices Surge on Global Markets, Strengthening the DRC’s Economic Outlook
Cobalt prices are maintaining an upward trajectory on international markets, confirming a trend that has been underway for several weeks.
According to data from the National Market Commission of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the price of this strategic metal stood at USD 50,958 per tonne during the week of December 15–19, 2025, up from USD 48,472 per tonne the previous week.
This increase represents a weekly gain of USD 2,486, reflecting renewed interest in a raw material that is critical to several high-tech and energy-transition industries.
The price rally is expected to strengthen the economic outlook of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which remains the world’s leading producer of cobalt.
Additional indicators support this upward trend. Data published by Trading Economics show that cobalt reached USD 52,790 per tonne on December 11, 2025, marking a daily increase of 1.09 percent.
Over the past month, cobalt prices rose by 8.69 percent, while the year-on-year increase reached an exceptional 117.24 percent.
These figures are based on transactions involving contracts for difference (CFDs), which reflect benchmark market movements for the commodity.
Trading Economics forecasts a continuation of this positive momentum, with cobalt prices potentially reaching USD 55,000 per tonne in the coming weeks.
However, the platform notes that these price quotations are derived from over-the-counter (OTC) financial instruments and CFDs, rather than direct physical market transactions.
Cobalt is a hard, lustrous, silvery-grey metal with a high melting point of 1,493 degrees Celsius. It is primarily used in the production of chemicals, which account for approximately 58 percent of global consumption.
The metal is also essential in the manufacture of superalloys for gas turbines and aircraft engines, special steels, carbides, diamond tools, and magnets.
In terms of global output, the DRC accounts for more than 50 percent of worldwide cobalt production, far ahead of Russia at around 4 percent, followed by Australia, the Philippines, and Cuba.
Cobalt is also traded through futures contracts on the London Metal Exchange (LME), where the standard contract size is one tonne.
These financial instruments enable producers, major consumers, and investors to hedge against price volatility or capitalize on market movements.
Amid the global energy transition and rising demand for batteries and advanced technologies, cobalt price developments remain a key strategic indicator for both international markets and the Congolese economy.
