Glencore outlines cobalt strategy amid lifting of DRC’s cobalt export ban

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Diversified mining and marketing company Glencore on Wednesday outlined its strategy surrounding the export of cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which follows the lifting by the DRC government of its export ban on cobalt, and the introduction of quotas on the export of this hard silvery-grey metal, which is used in several modern technologies.
Imposed following the revocation of the cobalt export prohibition are export quotas totalling 87 000 t/y on contained cobalt for 2026 and 2027, and an 18 125 t quota for the remainder of 2025. In addition, the DRC government has retained a strategic quota of 9 600 t/y.
Given that Glencore has sufficient cobalt inventory available to utilise the allocated quotas to the full, it will be prioritising DRC copper production over cobalt, where it makes sense - a strategy that is expected to continue while the quotas are in effect, Glencore outlined about the restrictions on this metal, which is used in electric vehicle batteries, consumer electronics batteries, high-strength alloys for jet engines and cutting tools, as well as being a vitamin B component for human health.
Above-quota production levels of cobalt will be stored in-country, said Glencore, which is a producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities that support decarbonisation, while also meeting current energy needs. Glencore's marketing and industrial activities are supported by a global network of more than 50 offices.
The customers of this London- and Johannesburg-listed company are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing and oil sectors.
"Underpinned by a strong third quarter production performance, particularly in copper and coal, full-year 2025 production guidance for our key commodities has been maintained, with ranges tightened to reflect just one quarter remaining," Glencore CEO Gary Nagle stated in a release to Mining Weekly on its third quarter of 2025 production report.
Copper production volumes increased 36% quarter on quarter owing to 66% higher performance at the DRC's Kamoto, 60% better performance at the DRC's Mutanda, 52% better performance at Peru's Antamina and 66% better performance at Peru's Antapaccay.
Zinc volumes year to date are tracking up 10% period-on-period while steelmaking and energy coal volumes are on track for full-year outcomes towards the middle and upper ends of their respective earlier guidance ranges.
Glencore's marketing performance year to date is set for full-year earnings around the mid-point of a recently upgraded through-the-cycle guidance range of $2.3-billion to $3.5-billion a year.
Own sourced third-quarter copper production was a 36%-higher 63 600 t and own sourced third-quarter cobalt production an 8%-higher 28 500 t.
Own sourced overall zinc production of 709 400 t was 10% higher than the comparable 2024 period and own sourced nickel production of 52 400 t was 9% lower than the comparable 2024 period.
Attributable ferrochrome production of 436 000 t was 51% below the comparable 2024 period, owing to the suspension of operations at South Africa's Boshoek smelter in May and Wonderkop smelter in June, pending a sustained recovery in ferrochrome conversion margins (from chrome ore). Operations at the Lion smelter are suspended for scheduled annual maintenance and planned furnace rebuilds.
Steelmaking coal production of 24.7-million tonnes and energy coal production of 73.5-million tonnes were broadly in line with the comparable 2024 period.
Glencore completed the sale of the Pasar copper smelter and refinery in the Philippines last month and in July, the Mount Isa copper mine in Australia ceased operations, placing copper smelting and refining reliance on third-party feedstocks.