Africa · Central Key Facts —Export Quotas. The DRC set annual cobalt export quotas at 96,600 metric tons for 2026 and 2027, less than half of 2024 output. —Chinese Dominance. Chinese state-owned enterprises control roughly 80 percent of the DRC’s cobalt output and up to 90 percent of global refining capacity. —Royalty Pre-Payment. Exporters must now pre-pay a 10 percent royalty on quota volumes within 48 hours of submitting declarations. —Western Courtship. President Tshisekedi has offered U.S. and European firms access to state-owned mining assets in exchange for security support. …
Africa
Africa & Latin America
DRC Tightens Grip on Cobalt and Copper Exports Amid Great-Power Rivalry
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July 15, 2026
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8 min read
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