Congo Extends Cobalt Export Ban, Squeezing EV Supply Chains

The Democratic Republic of Congo has prolonged its cobalt export suspension for three additional months, tightening the vise on electric vehicle manufacturers reliant on the critical battery metal. The extension until September locks approximately 70% of global cobalt production out of international markets.

ARECOMS, Congo's mineral regulatory body, cited persistent oversupply concerns as inventories continue swelling amid depressed prices. The original four-month embargo implemented in February 2025 aimed to stabilize plummeting cobalt values but now threatens to disrupt production timelines across the clean energy sector.

As the source of nearly three-quarters of the world's cobalt, Congo's export restrictions send shockwaves through lithium-ion battery supply chains. The metal's strategic importance for EVs and consumer electronics makes this protracted shortage particularly consequential for technology manufacturers worldwide.