Cobalt

The trends and forces driving the cobalt market

From continued growth in demand and market share for electric vehicles to the build-up of energy storage systems, cobalt is key in the global transformation to new energy sources. But there is a lack of diversity in the supply chain for battery and automakers. Roughly 70% of mined cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo – where the supply and reputational risks for manufacturers are well known – and 70% of cobalt processing occurs in China.

Logistics and shipping disruptions are still a key issue, and high prices for the battery material continue. In response, we’re seeing an even greater need for the recycling of cobalt for electric vehicles.

We provide data-driven insights and analysis to help you understand the market further. From cobalt price data to futures contracts, forecasts to market news, our experts provide you with intelligence on what’s driving the cobalt market.

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What’s happening in the cobalt market?

The structure of the cobalt market is changing as new, more diverse supply is brought to market and ESG considerations come more into focus. Get the latest cobalt news and analysis from our expert price reporters, analysts and researchers.

China imported 507 tonnes of cobalt metal in March, representing a 133.64% month-on-month increase from 217 tonnes in February, the country’s customs data showed

The prices for standard-grade cobalt metal in China and Europe narrowed on Wednesday April 5, sparked by weaker market sentiment resulting from a fall in cobalt intermediate prices in Asia

Market participants in the cobalt supply chain continue to face logistical hurdles when looking to ship out material from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the port of Durban in South Africa

China’s nickel producer Lygend said on Sunday March 26 that it had made its first batch of nickel sulfate products in Indonesia on Saturday, becoming the first electric vehicle (EV) battery-grade nickel sulfate project in the country to achieve production

An increasingly fierce price war in China’s domestic automotive sector for electric vehicles (EVs) and traditional vehicles in recent months has dealt another blow to battery raw materials prices, sources told Fastmarkets

Prices for cobalt metal have witnessed a sustained rally and recovery in recent weeks, after hitting lows at the beginning of the year, even while market participants see challenging conditions on the supply side in the longer term

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