Cobalt - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
A metal used in rechargeable batteries, superalloys and industrial catalysts.Production and reserves are measured by cobalt content. The production series locates the mining stage of the cobalt supply chain.
Cobalt Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production (metric tons)
Cobalt Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production · Unit: metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 98,000 | 119,000 | 144,000 | 170,000 | 226,000 | 230,000 | 74.2% | +134.7% |
| #2 | Indonesia | 1,100 | 2,700 | 9,600 | 17,000 | 35,000 | 44,000 | 14.2% | +3900.0% |
| #3 | Russia | 9,000 | 8,000 | 9,200 | 8,800 | 8,000 | 7,700 | 2.5% | -14.4% |
| #4 | Madagascar | 850 | 2,800 | 3,500 | 4,000 | 3,100 | 3,900 | 1.3% | +358.8% |
| #5 | Australia | 5,630 | 5,295 | 5,790 | 4,600 | 4,780 | 3,700 | 1.2% | -34.3% |
| #5 | Philippines | 4,500 | 3,600 | 3,900 | 3,800 | 3,100 | 3,700 | 1.2% | -17.8% |
| #7 | Canada | 3,690 | 4,361 | 3,060 | 2,100 | 3,350 | 3,500 | 1.1% | -5.1% |
| #8 | Papua New Guinea | 2,940 | 2,953 | 2,990 | 2,900 | 2,630 | 2,800 | 0.9% | -4.8% |
| #9 | China | 2,200 | 2,200 | 2,200 | - | 2,000 | 2,000 | 0.6% | -9.1% |
| #9 | Cuba | 3,800 | 4,000 | 3,700 | 3,200 | 3,450 | 2,000 | 0.6% | -47.4% |
| #11 | Türkiye | - | 2,400 | 2,100 | 2,800 | 2,200 | 1,900 | 0.6% | - |
| #12 | United States | 600 | 650 | 500 | 500 | 200 | 300 | 0.1% | -50.0% |
| - | World Total | 142,000 | 165,000 | 197,000 | 230,000 | 302,000 | 310,000 | 100.0% | +118.3% |
Cobalt Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves · Unit: metric tons · Global Implied Reserve Life: 38.7 years
| Rank | Country | Reserves (metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 6,000,000 | 50.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #2 | Australia | 1,700,000 | 14.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - For Australia, Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were 680,000 tons. |
| #3 | Russia | 800,000 | 6.7% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - Data from the Russia Ministry of Natural Resources. |
| #4 | Indonesia | 760,000 | 6.3% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #5 | Cuba | 500,000 | 4.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #6 | Philippines | 260,000 | 2.2% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #7 | Canada | 220,000 | 1.8% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #8 | China | 160,000 | 1.3% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #9 | Madagascar | 100,000 | 0.8% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #10 | Türkiye | 91,000 | 0.8% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #11 | Papua New Guinea | 84,000 | 0.7% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #12 | United States | 70,000 | 0.6% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| - | World Total Reserves | 12,000,000 | 100.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt: Production: Mine | metric tons | 650 | 500 | 500 | 200 | 300 |
| Cobalt: Production: Secondary | metric tons | 1,800 | 1,920 | 2,030 | 2,050 | 2,000 |
| Cobalt: Imports for consumption | metric tons | 9,790 | 10,500 | 9,500 | 10,800 | 14,000 |
| Cobalt: Exports | metric tons | 4,930 | 5,360 | 5,110 | 4,880 | 4,500 |
| Cobalt: Consumption (includes secondary): Estimated | metric tons | 7,270 | 7,570 | 7,840 | 7,830 | 8,000 |
| Cobalt: Consumption (includes secondary): Apparent | metric tons | 6,650 | 7,150 | 6,440 | 7,960 | 9,600 |
| Cobalt: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | 73% | 73% | 69% | 74% | 79% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Cobalt
Which country leads cobalt production (mine production)?
Democratic Republic of the Congo leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production, with 230,000 metric tons (estimated) (74.2% of the reported world total). World output was 310,000 metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported cobalt reserves?
Democratic Republic of the Congo ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 6,000,000 metric tons (Reserves) (50.0% of the reported world total) against a reported world total of 12,000,000 metric tons.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for cobalt?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at 79% (Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (Metal, oxide, and salts) were Norway (26%), Finland (16%), Canada (14%).
How is cobalt classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (2022 & 2025 lists). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Lithium-ion battery cathodes, high-temperature aerospace superalloys, cemented carbides, and chemical catalysts. Most cobalt is mined as a byproduct of copper and nickel extraction (notably in the Central African Copperbelt and Indonesian nickel laterites) and subsequently refined into cobalt metal and battery-grade chemicals.