DRC to Reallocate Unused Cobalt Export Quotas to Strategic National Projects
DRC Tightens Cobalt Export Controls, Reclaims Unused Quotas to Boost Local Value Addition
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced stricter measures to regulate cobalt exports by reclaiming unused export quotas and reallocating them to strategic national initiatives aimed at increasing local value addition and strengthening state oversight of the country’s critical minerals sector.
According to a directive issued by the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets (ARECOMS), all cobalt export quotas allocated for the first half of 2026 that remain unused by June 30 will automatically be forfeited and transferred to the regulator’s strategic quota.
The move is part of the government’s broader strategy to exercise greater control over cobalt exports while ensuring the country’s mineral wealth contributes more directly to domestic economic development.
The DRC, which accounts for more than 70% of global cobalt reserves and remains the world’s largest producer of the battery metal, introduced an export quota system earlier this year to better manage supply and stabilize the market.
Under the new policy, the reallocated quotas will be reserved for projects considered to be of national strategic importance.
These include initiatives that promote local mineral processing, encourage value addition, and safeguard the country’s long-term economic interests.
ARECOMS also confirmed that any unused quota volumes will be permanently deducted from a company’s allocation and cannot be carried forward, effectively penalizing exporters that fail to ship their allocated volumes within the prescribed timeframe.
In addition, only cobalt shipments that have been declared through the customs system by July 5 will qualify for export under the first-half quota allocations. The new regulations take effect on July 1, 2026.
The regulator further warned that companies risk losing their export quotas entirely if they fail to utilize their allocations, transfer quotas without authorization, process third-party or artisanal cobalt without approval, or violate other regulatory requirements.
Major cobalt producers operating in the DRC include CMOC, Glencore, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), and Huayou Cobalt.
The latest measures reflect the Congolese government’s continued efforts to capture more value from its vast mineral resources by encouraging domestic processing and exercising tighter control over exports as global demand for cobalt continues to grow, driven largely by the electric vehicle battery industry.
