METALSGOWHERE ATLAS · SUPPLY RESEARCH
Cobalt export restrictions
As of 2026-11-03 · Observation periods are shown separately.
As of 2026-11-03
35.95% of 2024 world mine output
Export restriction equivalent, not a mine-production cut.
What makes up the YTD total
Estimated export restriction equivalent · Each bar is a share of the same YTD total.
Event status and periods
Event periods, not measured daily losses. Full source dates appear beneath each lane.
Counted this year
- DRC cobalt export quotas: 96,600 t a year for 2026–2027
2025-10-16 → ongoing
Current conditions
- Current annualised impact
- 129.5 kt
- Ongoing events
- 1
The annualised figure is a current rate, not a full-year forecast. Do not add it to the YTD total.
As of 2026-11-03 · Denominator: 302.0 kt · USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, world mine production 2024, metal content
Counted this year
Swipe horizontally to see the full table.
| Event | Period | Confirmation and quantity basis | YTD impact | Annualised if ongoing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRC cobalt export quotas: 96,600 t a year for 2026–2027 | 2025-10-16 → ongoing | Confirmed, in force Model estimate | 108.6 kt | 129.5 kt | Primary source |
Recent months
Recalculated using current information · YTD impact at each month end, or the date shown above for the current month. Not a then-known forecast; YTD resets in January.
- 2026-0996.5 kt
- 2026-10107.5 kt
- 2026-11108.6 kt
Swipe horizontally to see the full table.
| Month | YTD impact | Share of reference-year world output | Annualised impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09 | 96.5 kt | 31.95% | 129.5 kt |
| 2026-10 | 107.5 kt | 35.60% | 129.5 kt |
| 2026-11 | 108.6 kt | 35.95% | 129.5 kt |
How this is counted
- Confirmation refers to the event, not to measured lost tonnes. Quantity rows distinguish model estimates from company-disclosed impacts; media-only reports are shown separately.
- Estimated impact = annual production basis ÷ 365 × affected share × days in force. It stops accruing on the disclosed restart or restriction end date; this is not observed market shortage.
- Structural halts that began before last year are listed separately and kept out of the year-to-date figure; smelter-side events are listed separately from mine-side events.
- The denominator is world mine production in the explicitly stated USGS reference year. Cobalt compares an export-quota restriction with the production baseline: it is not mine output lost, a stock change or measured export shortfall.
- Current annualised impact is a rate at today's conditions, not a full-year forecast. Do not add it to the year-to-date quantity.
Source: metalsgowhere.com, as of 2026-11-03. Citation & data use