Overview
- The DRC issued a government order that took effect on June 29 banning the export of copper and cobalt concentrates and creating immediate operational uncertainty for miners that had exported raw concentrates.
- The move matters because the DRC supplies more than 70% of mined cobalt and is Africa’s largest copper producer, giving its export rules outsized influence on battery and electronics inputs.
- Mining firms with domestic processing capacity stand to benefit from the policy while companies that export concentrates face lost revenue and tougher compliance as waivers are reviewed case by case.
- Markets reacted quickly with London Metal Exchange copper prices climbing about 1.8% to roughly $14,370 per tonne as traders priced in tighter concentrate flows and higher refining demand.
- The ban continues a policy escalation from 2013 through a 2025 cobalt suspension and 2026 quotas and mirrors Indonesia’s 2020 nickel strategy; observers will watch enforcement, the pace of smelter build‑out, waiver decisions, and downstream price effects.