Congo bans copper, cobalt concentrate exports

The Democratic Republic of Congo has banned exports of copper and cobalt concentrates in what Reuters described as "a major escalation of its drive to force domestic processing and retain more value from its vast mineral resources."reuters

The order, dated June 29 and signed by Mines Minister Louis Kabamba Watum, Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya, and Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba, states plainly that "the export of copper and cobalt concentrates is prohibited." Reuters first reported the ban on Thursday after reviewing the government order.miningmx+1

What the Ban Entails

The ban takes effect immediately, though the mines minister retains the power to grant one-year export waivers under "strategic" circumstances. Alongside the concentrate export prohibition, the DRC introduced a new tax regime for economically significant mining by-products, using a 55% valuation coefficient. That tax regime carries a three-month transition period, during which miners must declare by-products in their exports.miningmx+1

The order replaces a 2023 export ban with a broader framework and comes after the DRC suspended cobalt exports in February 2025 amid a supply glut that had caused prices to collapse. Congo later transitioned to a quota system in October 2025, but compliance challenges and procedural uncertainties delayed actual shipments for months.facebook+2

Market Impact and Industry Response

The DRC is the world's largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper supplier. Following news of the ban, benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 1.8%, according to Mining.com.au.mining+2

Ivanhoe Mines moved quickly to clarify its position, stating that "a ban on the export of unbeneficiated concentrate has been in place and enforced in the DRC for close to 10 years" and that its Kamoa-Kakula operation already smelts copper concentrate domestically or holds valid derogations. The ban could also affect CMOC Group ↗ 8.29%, Glencore, Zijin Mining, and state-owned Gécamines.ivanhoemines+1

A Broader Continental Shift

The DRC's move fits within a wider pattern of resource nationalism across Africa. According to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, more than 13 African countries have enacted export restrictions since 2023, focusing on value-added processing. With global demand for critical minerals accelerating amid the energy transition, and the United States and other nations competing to secure supply chains, the DRC's willingness to restrict raw material exports adds further uncertainty to an already strained market.mining

Reuters reported that in the first quarter of 2026, the DRC exported 696,725 tonnes of copper cathodes but only 53,926 tonnes of copper concentrates, suggesting the immediate supply disruption from the concentrate ban may be limited relative to the country's total output.reuters+1