Get started

INFOGRAPHIC: Covid-19’s impact on cobalt supply, trade flows

It has been almost one year since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak and global economies are still recovering from the fallout. Fastmarkets analyzes the effects of the pandemic on global cobalt supply and trade flows.

December 2, 2020
By Susan Zou
Cobalt Global Trade flows

What to read next
Transforming Business through AI Event Tokyo, Japan, February 2025. Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images
AI race in Asia’s energy tube, pipe industry: Japan’s philosophy of precision
The contrasting approaches to AI adoption in Asia’s energy tube and pipe industry are most visible when comparing China’s scale-driven transformation with Japan’s precision-focused strategy.
February 27, 2026
 · 
By Xiaoying Du
Open consultation on IOSCO-audited steelmaking raw materials indices: pricing notice
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the methodology for its audited steelmaking raw materials indices, as part of its announced annual methodology review process. The consultation, which is open until Friday March 27, seeks to ensure that our audited methodologies and price specifications continue to reflect the physical markets for steelmaking raw materials, […]
February 27, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Final decision on open consultation on methodology review for non-ferrous materials, industrial minerals
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its non-ferrous materials and industrial minerals prices, via an open consultation process between January 6 and February 6. This consultation was done as part of our published annual methodology review process.
February 13, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Cobalt up close as mineral
Trafigura, Mercuria receive copper, cobalt from DRC’s artisanal supplier
The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) state-controlled Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) announced its first copper and cobalt shipments to Swiss traders Trafigura and Mercuria on Monday February 9, with Trafigura using the Lobito Corridor to transport commodities.
February 12, 2026
 · 
By Sofia Okun
DRC cobalt export ban
From Kinshasa to Kansas: US lays out its plan to reshape cobalt supply chains
When President Trump took office for a second time just over a year ago, he immediately sought to tear up the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a key piece of Joe Biden’s legacy. But plans announced earlier this week, ending on Friday February 6, have reshaped the future for cobalt and critical minerals.
February 11, 2026
 · 
By Alexander Cook
A furnace operator responsible for managing, monitoring, and controlling furnaces in manufacturing, smelting, and refining processes.
What the Rio Tinto-Glencore breakup really tells us: Hotter Commodities
For a brief moment, the mining sector allowed itself to consider a bold idea: Rio Tinto and Glencore in merger discussions.
February 10, 2026
 · 
By Andrea Hotter