Glencore Q1: African copper cathode surges 68%, cobalt production falls 39% y-o-y

Own-sourced copper production from Glencore’s African copper assets — KCC and Mutanda — rose by 27,400 tonnes (68%) year on year to 67,900 tonnes, with KCC contributing 51,900 tonnes (up 72% year on year) and Mutanda 16,000 tonnes (up 55%), according to the production report. Glencore attributed the increase to improved grades at both operations.

African cobalt production fell to 5,100 tonnes, down by 42% year on year, with Mutanda producing no cobalt in the quarter compared with 2,900 tonnes a year earlier, according to the report.

For the first quarter of 2026, Glencore’s own-sourced cobalt production was 5,800 tonnes, down by 39% year on year.