Congo copper and cobalt miners cut chemical use as Iran war disrupts supplies, sources say

Published: Apr 13, 2026 23:54

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Affected by shipping turmoil triggered by the Iran situation, major copper and cobalt producers in the DRC have had orders for key leaching chemicals canceled or withdrawn by suppliers this month, forcing them to reduce chemical usage and consider output cuts.Sources indicate that thousands of metric tons of sodium metabisulfite (SMBS) orders have been unilaterally canceled or withdrawn after contract signing. Miners are cutting chemical consumption to extend existing stockpiles, and are even considering lowering cobalt production or producing off-spec material to maintain operations.Affected companies include top miners in the DRC such as CMOC, Glencore, and Eurasian Resources Group.

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