Cobalt
A battery cathode and superalloy metal. About three-quarters of mined supply comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Used in high-energy battery cathodes for backup power, in superalloys for gas turbines that power off-grid data centers, and — in tiny amounts — as an interconnect and liner material in advanced chips.
The DRC's export quota (96,600 t/yr for 2026–27, under half of 2024 output) widened IEA's projected cobalt gap from ~15% to over 25%; prices rose ~130%.
Where it's produced
Share of 2025 world mine production (metric tons). Source: USGS MCS 2026.
Where the reserves are
Share of known economic reserves (metric tons). World total: 12M t. ≈ 39 years at 2025 output.
Who calls it critical
Membership on each government list. “Strategic” marks a higher tier where the list has one; “group” means included as part of a group such as rare earths or PGMs.
Cobalt: key questions
- Where is cobalt mined or produced?
- According to USGS 2025 data, the largest producers are DR Congo (74%), Indonesia (14%) and Russia (2.5%) of world mine production. China accounts for about 1%.
- Is cobalt a critical mineral?
- Cobalt appears on 10 of the 10 official lists we track (United States, United States (DOE), European Union, United Kingdom, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Canada).
- Is cobalt in short supply?
- Our supply status: Structural deficit. The DRC's export quota (96,600 t/yr for 2026–27, under half of 2024 output) widened IEA's projected cobalt gap from ~15% to over 25%; prices rose ~130%.
- Why does cobalt matter for AI infrastructure?
- Used in high-energy battery cathodes for backup power, in superalloys for gas turbines that power off-grid data centers, and — in tiny amounts — as an interconnect and liner material in advanced chips.
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