Chinese cobalt refiners are preparing to use cobalt metal as feedstock for sulfate and tetroxide production, as tightening supply and price rallies on cobalt hydroxide from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have made smelters look for alternatives, market sources told Fastmarkets.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has introduced cobalt export quotas following the suspension period, setting limits on shipments while outlining future allocations. The policy is designed to balance global supply and demand while supporting the country’s ambition to develop domestic processing capacity.

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Cost and availability concerns around copper have accelerated aluminium substitution in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, with aluminium now used in an estimated 40% of global units, Lionel Chapis, Norsk Hydro’s senior vice president of Hydro Precision Tubing, told Fastmarkets in an exclusive interview on Tuesday August 26.

The DRC cobalt export ban has continued to reduce China’s cobalt intermediate imports in July 2025, driving tighter supply and higher prices. Meanwhile, Chinese cobalt metal exports remained stable despite ongoing market disruptions.

Electra Battery Materials Corp announced on Thursday July 31 that it is starting metallurgical testing on cobalt feedstocks at its historic Cobalt Camp in Ontario and at its Iron Creek, Idaho cobalt and copper project to expand North American supply of critical minerals contained in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).

After a consultation period from June 20 to July 18, Fastmarkets made the decision to discontinue these assessments because the outright prices no longer reflect market conditions, with the market shifting toward payables as the dominant pricing method. The affected prices are:MB-NIO-0003 nickel mixed hydroxide precipitate outright price, cif China, Japan and South Korea, $ per tonneMB-NIO-0005 nickel […]

The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-CO-0004 cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam and MB-CO-0005 cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam assessments for Wednesday July 23 was delayed because of a system error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.

After an initial one-and-a-half-month consultation, followed by a further three-month consultation period on the proposed inclusion of a powder brand, and following market feedback and data analysis, Fastmarkets has determined that current market circumstances do not make the proposed amendment to the cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam, daily price assessment viable. This decision is not a judgement on the […]

In the weeks following confirmation that the cobalt market will face an additional three months of no exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), metal prices have consolidated as participants point to the future for bullish sentiment.