Cobalt: World Mine Production, By Country Or Locality

This table presents detailed data on global cobalt mine production by country or locality, measured in metric tons of recoverable cobalt content. This information is crucial for understanding the supply dynamics of cobalt, a critical metal widely used in rechargeable batteries, aerospace components, and various industrial catalysts. Tracking production levels helps stakeholders assess market trends, potential supply risks, and the geopolitical landscape influencing cobalt availability, which is vital for industries reliant on this metal for manufacturing electric vehicles, electronics, and renewable energy technologies.

Analysis of the data reveals that the Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) remains the dominant producer, with output rising significantly from 144,000 metric tons in 2022 to 175,000 metric tons in 2023, underscoring its critical role in the cobalt supply chain. Indonesia showed remarkable growth, nearly doubling production from 9,600 metric tons in 2022 to 19,000 metric tons in 2023, reflecting rapid expansion in its nickel-cobalt operations. Conversely, some countries like Australia and Finland experienced declines, with Australia’s production dropping from 5,793 metric tons in 2022 to 5,222 metric tons in 2023, and Finland’s decreasing from 1,235 to 1,057 metric tons over the same period. Overall, world cobalt mine production increased substantially, reaching 238,000 metric tons in 2023, up from 198,000 metric tons in 2022, driven largely by growth in the Congo and Indonesia, which together account for the majority of global output.

TABLE 7
COBALT: WORLD MINE PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1, 2

(Metric tons, cobalt content)

Country or locality³	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023
Australia⁴	5746	r	5631	r	5232		5793	r	5222
Brazil	30	e	160	e	266		291		300	e
Canada⁵	4365		4328		3964		3573	r	4219
China	1742		2000	e	2000	e	2000	e	2000	e
Congo (Kinshasa)e, 6	107000		100000		118000		144000		175000
Cubae, 7	3600		3800		3800		3700		3300
Finland	1454		1559		1084		1235		1057
Indonesiae, 8	1100		1100		2700		9600		19000
Madagascare, 9	3400		970		2500	r	4000	r	4000
Mexicoe	1100		1000		1100		600		300
Moroccoe, 10	2200		1900		1600		1700		1500
New Caledonia¹¹	1700	e	2200	e	1100	e	2000	e	2572
Papua New Guinea¹²	2911		2941		2953		2987		3072
Philippinese, 13	4300		4100		3600		3900		3800
Russia¹⁴	9400		9700		8000		9200		8700	e
South Africa	1027		897		355		250		378
Turkeye, 15	610		2550		2700		2100		2500
United Statese, 14	500		600		650		500		500
Zambia	878		316		247		251		207
Zimbabwe	402		956		345		241		336
Total	153000		147000		162000		198000	r	238000

^eEstimated. ^rRevised.

¹Table includes data available through October 1, 2024. All data are reported unless otherwise noted; totals may include estimated data. Totals, U.S. data, and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

²Figures represent recoverable cobalt content from ore, concentrate, or intermediate products from cobalt, copper, nickel, platinum, or zinc operations.

³Other copper-, iron (pyrite)-, nickel-, platinum-, or zinc-producing countries and (or) localities also may have produced ore containing cobalt as a byproduct component, but recovery was small or zero.

⁴Cobalt content of lateritic nickel ore and nickel concentrate reported by the government of Western Australia.

⁵Recoverable cobalt in concentrate shipped reported by Statistics Canada. Data prior to 2019 are mineral production reported by Natural Resources Canada.

⁶Determined from reported or estimated cobalt content of materials originating from mining and processing operations in Congo (Kinshasa) such as ore, concentrate, refined cobalt metal, and intermediate products including crude cobalt alloys, crude cobalt hydroxide, and crude cobalt carbonate produced from cobalt ore and concentrate, tailings, or slags.

⁷Determined from estimated cobalt content of nickel-cobalt sulfide production and estimated cobalt content of ammoniacal liquor production.

⁸Determined from estimated cobalt content of nickel matte plus estimated cobalt content of nickel-cobalt hydroxide.

⁹Estimated cobalt content of ore production based on reported or estimated cobalt metal powder production and nickel recovery rates.

¹⁰Cobalt content of concentrate estimated from reported or estimated gross weight.

¹¹Cobalt content of nickel hydroxide. Data prior to 2021 include cobalt content of cobalt carbonate.

¹²Cobalt content of nickel-cobalt hydroxide.

¹³Cobalt content of nickel-cobalt sulfide.

¹⁴Cobalt content of concentrate.

¹⁵Cobalt content of cobalt carbonate and nickel-cobalt hydroxide.