Congo copper exports reach record levels, as sales to the US and Europe double
A report by the official showed that the Democratic Republic of Congo exported a record amount of copper in the first half of 2026. The share of the exports to the United States, Europe, and other countries doubled compared to 2025, as Kinshasa sought to diversify its mineral exports to avoid China. Congo is the largest cobalt and copper producer in the world. It's also the second-largest copper manufacturer. Chinese companies such as CMOC, Huayou Cobalt, and Zijin are dominant in the sector.
Cabinet minutes state that Congo has created a task force to deal with US minerals.
According to cabinet minutes seen by?Tuesday?, the Democratic Republic of Congo approved a task force to accelerate implementation of its strategic minerals partnership with United States. Kinshasa is seeking to attract more Western investments into its copper- and cobalt-sector. The decision is the latest in Congo's efforts at diversifying funding sources outside of China and strengthening ties with Washington. Washington wants to challenge China's dominance over critical mineral supply chains.
Sources say that Turkish trader BGN is looking at Congo cobalt to expand its metals business.
People with knowledge of the matter said that BGN, a Turkish energy and commodities trading company, is interested in buying 'battery materials cobalt' from the Democratic Republic if?Congo to help boost its new metals business. The Congo produces about 70% of all cobalt in the world and is home to major mines, including China's CMOC as well as Glencore, a London-listed company. Although its government has prohibited exports of concentrated cobalt, it still allows the exports under quotas. BGN has begun early stage?talks?
Official order bans the export of copper and cobalt concentrates from Congo
A government order reviewed on Thursday shows that the?Democratic Republic of Congo banned exports of cobalt?concentrate? and copper?concentrate? as part of its efforts to increase domestic processing in an effort to retain more value for its mineral resources. The London Metal Exchange reported that the ban had been lifted. Benchmark three-month copper rose 1.8%, to $14,369.50 per metric ton. This is the highest price since January 29, when the metal reached its all-time high of $14,527.50. As of 0930 GMT, it was trading at $14300.
Official order bans copper and cobalt exports from Congo
According to a recent?government order, the Congo has banned the export of copper concentrate and a cobalt concentration in an effort to increase domestic processing of its mineral resources and retain more value. The order signed on June 29, by Mines Minister Louis Kabamba Watum and Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya, as well as Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba states that the export of copper-cobalt concentrates are prohibited.
Glencore's copper production up 15% and sees $3.3 billion in marketing EBIT
Glencore announced 'on Wednesday that its first-half production of copper rose by a whopping 15% due to higher grades in key operations. Its'marketing unit, on the other hand, is expected to generate about $3?billion?in core adjusted earnings. This puts it on course to exceed its top end annual guidance. The Swiss commodities trader and mining company produced 397,000 metric tonnes of copper in its first six months of this year. This is up from the 343,900 tons it produced in 2025.
Congo continues to push for local ownership rules for miners, despite industry concerns
The Democratic Republic of Congo will begin enforcing the long-delayed requirement that mining companies offer local ownership stakes on July 31. This is despite concerns raised by some of the largest copper and cobalt producers in the world about the impact of this law. The Congolese miners, who are the top cobalt and copper producers in the world, had been trying to delay implementation of a law passed last year that required companies to transfer 10% of equity to Congolese citizens, including 5% to employees.
Industry warns that the planned reform of Congo's mining laws could undermine investor confidence
A document seen on Monday by the Democratic Republic of Congo's?main mining industry -body? warns that proposed changes in mining laws to tighten state control may dent investor trust in the world's largest cobalt producer. The world's second largest copper supplier is also a significant source of tantalum, germanium and gold. It hosts some of mining's most prominent companies, including China's CMOC and Huayou Cobalt & Zijin, Switzerland's Glencore, and Canada's Barrick.
President warns that heavy-handed revenue enforcement is a danger to the Congo mining industry
Cabinet minutes show that Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi ordered the state revenue agencies to refrain heavy-handed enforcement operations against mining firms, warning 'that excessive measures could dent investors confidence. Tshisekedi’s order reflects Democratic Republic of Congo’s efforts to generate more revenue for the state from its vast mineral resources without scaring investors in the copper-cobalt sector, a pillar of country’s economy.
Ivanhoe expects Congo copper production to rise in the second half of 2026, a statement from Ivanhoe shows
Ivanhoe Mines announced on Wednesday that copper production at its flagship Kamoa - Kakula complex, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is expected to increase in the second half of 2026. This will be due to an increase in mining rates and a reduction in inventories. Ivanhoe Congo, based in Vancouver, is a key source of copper supply growth for the mining industry as analysts predict a tighter market globally by?2026. * In April, the company cut its copper production forecasts for 2026 and 2027 following seismic disruptions in the Kakula Mine.
Congo does not see any major threat to its copper and cobalt production from the Middle East Crisis
A senior mining official said that the Democratic Republic of Congo did not expect any significant disruptions in copper and cobalt output this year because of chemical supply constraints resulting from the Middle East conflict. U.S. - Iran conflict, which began on February 28, and is largely over after a?last month interim peace treaty has halted, has caused sulfuric acid supply disruptions, an important input for copper and 'cobalt production.
Andy Home: The recovery of battery metals is affecting the EV market.
The battery metals bubble has passed its peak. The prices of cobalt, nickel and lithium have all recovered from their lows in 2024-2025. The story has been largely a tale of supply restraint. Since February of last year, the world's largest cobalt producer - the Democratic Republic of Congo - has limited exports. Indonesia, which has a similar grip on the nickel supply chain as well, uses quotas in order to control its rogue mining industry. Lithium’s recovery is largely due to the market.
Congo withdraws cobalt export quotas that are not being used
The strategic minerals regulator of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced that it would reassign unused cobalt quota rights to a state-controlled entity. This will tighten control over shipments coming from the top producer in world. In a Monday notice, ARECOMS stated that all export quotas for January-June that are not used by June 30th will be forfeited. Congo, which has more than 70% of the world's reserves of cobalt, implemented export quotas in March and extended first-quarter allocations to the end of June…
Rising heat, falling chips and sticking prices: the financial week in five charts
Open Interest (ROI), every Friday, distills the previous five days' financial activity into five charts that highlight the "major trends, surprises, and overlooked movements" of the week. 1. ANNA SZYMANSKI is the Editor in Charge of ROI. Although South Korea's KOSPI slipped 7% last week, it still achieved a 66% quarterly gain, its best since 1998. It has also roughly doubled from the beginning of the year. Will this week’s turmoil prove to be a turning-point or a speedbump? Recent history suggests that the latter.
Congo looks to coops and credit scheme to finance mine workers' equity stakes
A draft decree, seen on Tuesday by, showed that the Democratic Republic of Congo is considering a scheme to?help mining workers acquire mandatory stakes within the companies for which they work through worker cooperatives or company-financed credits. The authorities in the top cobalt producer and second largest copper producer of the world are preparing regulations to enforce a new law that requires miners to set aside 10% of their equity to Congolese nationals, including 5% to their employees.
Sources say that Congo miners want to delay the 5% worker equity rule until July deadline.
According to three sources and a document, miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo want to delay a government directive that requires them to give a 5% stake to Congolese workers. Unions, however, are pressing for immediate implementation before a deadline of July 31. A union leader claimed that no company had yet followed the directive, despite authorities' efforts to enforce local participation. Congo is the second largest copper and cobalt producer in the world.
Australian explosives maker Orica flags Ebola, coal risks
Orica, world's largest supplier of commercial explosives said Wednesday that it is facing a number of challenges in the?world, which could impact demand for its products, such as Ebola, and a coal mine collapse in China. Orica CEO Sanjeev Gandhi told a Melbourne Mining Club meeting that a few of the sites in Africa where Orica works could be affected by Ebola. The mining services provider has revived COVID protocols as a way to protect its teams and continue operations. "I am extremely concerned...
Andy Home: Investors are still betting on scarcity despite the rebalancing of ROI-Tin
What can tame a wild tin industry? The London Metal Exchange's (LME) smallest base metal contract continues to defy the market gravity. LME 3-month tin trades at $55,225 a metric ton. This is close to the previous all-time high of $59,040, reached during the febrile cross-metals rally that took place in January. In March 2022 metal prices soared as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. London's tin prices have risen by 36% in the first six months of this year. Aluminium is the next best performer, with a 23% increase.
US Embassy says that US does not fund $100 million mineguard in Congo
The United States announced?on? Tuesday that it?is?not funding any security units?tasked?with policing and guarding mines?in Democratic Republic of Congo?after Kinshasa announced its plans to launch paramilitary forces to secure mining sites? In a Monday statement, the Congo's General Inspection of Mines (IGM), said that the paramilitary?guard will be funded with a budget of $100 million and created as part of strategic partnerships between the U.S.?and the United Arab Emirates. The U.S.
Glencore's first-quarter output of copper jumps 19%; marketing unit to surpass target
Glencore reported on Thursday that its first-quarter copper production increased 19% due to improved ore grades in Africa. Meanwhile, its marketing division is still on track to surpass the upper end of its annual earning guidance. The Swiss commodities trader-miner produced 199.600 metric tons in the first quarter. This is up from 167.900 tons in the same period last year, mainly due to better grades in its African operations, and higher output at its Antamina Mine in Peru.