Congo has introduced new conditions for cobalt exporters that could complicate its recently launched quota system, according to a government circular reviewed by Reuters, as the country moves to maintain strict control over exports of the battery mineral it dominates globally.
The new rules require mining companies, among other obligations, to pre-pay a 10% royalty within 48 hours and obtain a compliance certificate before shipping cobalt.
Earlier this year, the Democratic Republic of Congo ended a months-long export ban and replaced it with a quota system in October, a move aimed at increasing government revenues and strengthening regulatory oversight in a nation responsible for more than 70% of global cobalt supply, which is vital for electric vehicle batteries.
However, no shipments have been exported since the ban was lifted as producers continue to seek clarity on the requirements and work to meet compliance standards, Reuters has previously reported.
A joint circular issued by the ministries of mines and finance and dated November 26 outlines the procedures exporters must follow.
These include mandatory quota verification, joint sampling, weighing and sealing of shipments, and the issuance of a new Quota Verification Certificate (AVQ) by the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets, known as ARECOMS.
The AVQ must accompany export documentation together with a checklist of certificates issued by multiple government agencies. The new measures came into effect immediately.
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Under the regulations, exporters must also pre-pay a 10% mining royalty on their allocated quotas within 48 hours of submitting origin and sales declarations, and they must obtain a “liberatory receipt” before customs clearance can be completed.
All cobalt exports will be subject to physical inspections and multi-agency oversight, according to the circular.
The mines and finance ministries, as well as Congo’s mines chamber, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
For the fourth quarter of 2025, Congo has allocated 18,125 metric tons of cobalt export quotas and plans to distribute 96,600 tons per year from 2026 onward.
The largest shares were awarded to leading producers China’s CMOC and Glencore, while ARECOMS retained a 10% strategic reserve.
Authorities have warned that failure to comply with the new rules could result in severe penalties, including the revocation of mining licences.
A mining executive, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, said there remains widespread uncertainty about how the requirements will be applied.
“Companies want to understand whether the 10% royalty to be paid for export will take into account the amount from the last export (before the ban),” the executive said.
Panmure Liberum analyst Duncan Hay said: “Congo’s shifting export rules offer no certainty, last-minute royalty demands and complex paperwork will keep exports and prices volatile.”
Cobalt is currently trading at around $24 per pound, or $52,910 per ton, up from about $16 per pound, or $35,275 per ton, in August.
Prices have been rising since they fell to a nine-year low of roughly $10 per pound in February, when the export ban was initially imposed.
Hay added that further supply instability could undermine battery demand. Beyond cobalt, Congo, a major global supplier of copper, is continuing to pursue reforms aimed at gaining tighter control over its extensive mining sector.
Last month it launched its first shipments of traceable artisanal cobalt and signed a partnership with Swiss commodity trading firm Mercuria to market cobalt, copper and other critical minerals.
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Image Credit: World Energy News
