Glencore cobalt output sinks 52% under DRC quotas
Export curbs have left the miner holding the battery metal in solution, deferring processing costs while protecting future sales.
Glencore, one of the world's largest cobalt producers, experienced a significant 52% decline in cobalt output during the first nine months of 2026 due to export quotas imposed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Swiss-based miner only produced 13,700 tonnes of its own-sourced cobalt, a 20% drop compared to the previous year's 28,500 tonnes.
This reduction is primarily attributed to the DRC's efforts to control cobalt supply, which has led companies to delay processing rather than producing material they cannot immediately export. Glencore's Kamoto Copper Company and Mutanda operations hold enough cobalt stocks to meet near-term export allocations, while its African Copper division saw a 56% decrease in cobalt production year-on-year, down to 11,600 tonnes.
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