With cobalt exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) set to resume in a few days’ time, the LME Week event in London has so far served as a mixing pot for opinions on how far the current price rally could go and the blue metal’s long-term future – from a perspective of both upstream DRC policy and downstream battery chemistry.

Xerion Advanced Battery Corp. is about to commission a 50-tonne cobalt production unit in Dayton, Ohio, part of its strategy to scale early annual output to 2,000 tonnes.

Backed by the German government and armed with decades of commodities trading experience, Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) is moving into metals with a deliberate, risk-managed strategy designed to bridge the worlds of energy and industry, a company executive has said.

The US Defense Logistics Agency has canceled its contract opportunity to purchase up to 7,500 tonnes of alloy-grade cobalt due to unresolved issues with the statement of work. The cancellation comes amid a sharp rise in cobalt prices, with the agency indicating the solicitation will be reissued once the issues are resolved.

China’s CMOC Group is pursuing measured growth and global expansion amid geopolitical and market uncertainties, with a focus on copper and gold and an emphasis on maintaining commercial independence and adaptability.

The DRC’s export quota system has tightened cobalt supply, driving price volatility and prompting shifts in sourcing strategies across the global market.

LME Week 2025 opens for the lithium market amid rising uncertainty over China’s new export controls on battery materials, and a shifting outlook for domestic supply from lepidolite and salt-lake projects

The International Trade Centre and Global Battery Alliance have partnered to advance digital infrastructure and develop frameworks for battery passport certification. The initiative supports global standards for sustainability, transparency and traceability across the battery value chain.

Major Indian secondary lead manufacturer Pondy Oxides & Chemicals Limited (POCL) has reaffirmed its commitment to the green transition by making a strategic investment in US-headquartered ACE Green Recycling.

Geology not ideology: Why collaboration is key in the critical minerals supply chain