DR Congo Bans Exports of Copper and Cobalt Concentrates
The Democratic Republic of Congo has taken a major step that could potentially shake up the global industrial supply chain. The government of the world’s largest cobalt producer has officially banned the export of copper concentrates and cobalt concentrates in order to encourage domestic mineral processing.
Citing Reuters on Thursday (6/8/2026), the policy is set out in a government regulation dated 29 June signed by Mining Minister Louis Kabamba Watum, Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya, and Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba. The regulation stipulates that exports of copper concentrates and cobalt concentrates are prohibited and the policy takes effect immediately.
In addition to the export ban, the government has also introduced a new tax regime for mining by-products that have economic value. This move is part of the government’s strategy to increase state revenue from the mining sector while also deriving greater added value from its mineral resources.
Nevertheless, the government is still leaving open the possibility of granting exemptions. The Mining Minister may issue export permits for a maximum of one year where there are reasons deemed strategic.
Meanwhile, the new tax rules will undergo a three-month transition period. During this period, all mining companies are required to report any by-products that are exported before the policy is fully implemented.
Congo is the world’s largest cobalt producer as well as the second-largest global copper supplier. As a result, the policy is expected to attract significant attention from industry players, particularly electric vehicle and battery manufacturers that are heavily dependent on supplies of both metals.
Several major mining companies operating in Congo include CMOC, the world’s largest cobalt producer, Glencore, Huayou Cobalt, Zijin Mining, Ivanhoe Mines, and Eurasian Resources Group. This latest policy marks an increasingly aggressive move by the Congolese government to push mineral downstreaming, so that processing is carried out domestically before export to international markets.