DRC Bans Copper, Cobalt Concentrate Exports to Boost Domestic Refining

The Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) has implemented a ban on exporting copper and cobalt concentrates, a move designed to stimulate local processing of its vast mineral wealth. This policy aims to ensure a greater share of the value chain remains within the country.

The prohibition is detailed in a decree signed on June 29 by the ministries of Mines, National Economy, and Foreign Trade. The decree empowers these ministries to forbid the export of certain marketable products if they do not align with the government's economic policy. "Consequently, the export of copper and cobalt concentrates is prohibited," states the interministerial decree.

However, the new regulation includes provisions for temporary exemptions, lasting up to one year. These may be granted to holders of mining rights and processing plants that can provide justified technical or economic reasons. The decree also establishes a regulatory framework imposing a 55% tax on the gross commercial value of "mining byproducts of economic interest," which are trace minerals recovered during the refining of the main ore. A three-month grace period is provided for mining companies to declare these byproducts before the tax takes effect.

This strategic decision positions the RDC, a global leader in cobalt supply and a key player in transition minerals like copper, to develop its domestic processing capabilities. The government seeks to capture more revenue from its extractive industries. The new rule replaces a previous regulation from August 2023, introducing stricter conditions. Official figures show that Congolese copper exports reached a record 3.49 million metric tons in 2025, with 823,887 tons exported in the first quarter of 2026. Cobalt exports in 2025 were 100,015 metric tons, a figure affected by a temporary shipping block in late 2025 due to global oversupply. In the first three months of 2026, 51,940 metric tons of cobalt hydroxides were exported.