Congo creates strategic cobalt reserve to influence supply and prices, regulator says

Published: Apr 16, 2026 16:04

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The mining regulator of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that the country has officially established a strategic reserve for cobalt and other critical minerals, to be operated by the market regulatory body ARECOMS, which is authorized to purchase, hold and market strategic minerals. As the world’s largest cobalt producer, the DRC accounted for around 70% of global supply last year. To counter the price slump caused by oversupply, it previously shifted from an export ban to a quota system, reserving 10% of national cobalt export volumes for state strategic use—totaling 9,600 metric tons in 2026. Any unused export quotas not shipped by companies within the deadline will be transferred to the national strategic reserve.

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