The world’s cobalt producing countries are among the most concentrated in global mining — ten nations account for virtually all output, with the Democratic Republic of Congo alone supplying more than 70% of global mine production. That concentration creates supply risk that runs through the entire battery materials and superalloy supply chain.
How We Ranked the Top 10 Cobalt Producing Countries
Rankings are based on 2024 mine production data from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. Where USGS data is marked as estimated, that is noted. Reserve figures are from the same source. Countries are ranked by annual production volume in metric tonnes of cobalt content.
Top 10 Cobalt Producing Countries in 2026
1. Democratic Republic of Congo — c.170,000 tonnes
The DRC is the dominant cobalt producing country by an order of magnitude. USGS data puts 2024 output at approximately 170,000 tonnes of cobalt content, representing around 70–72% of global mine supply. The country holds an estimated 3.5 million tonnes of cobalt reserves — the largest in the world. Production is concentrated in the Copper Belt province of Katanga, where CMOC, Glencore, Ivanhoe Mines, and Eurasian Resources Group operate the flagship assets.
The DRC’s political instability, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector — which accounts for roughly 15–20% of national output — and governance concerns around child labour in ASM operations are the most cited supply risk factors in the cobalt market. Despite these issues, output has grown steadily since 2020 and no credible alternative supply base is yet large enough to reduce dependence.
2. Indonesia — c.17,000 tonnes
Indonesia has become the second-largest cobalt producer as a by-product of its nickel laterite processing boom. Chinese-backed HPAL (high-pressure acid leach) plants, built primarily to supply battery-grade nickel sulphate, also yield cobalt hydroxide as a co-product. USGS estimates Indonesian cobalt output at approximately 17,000 tonnes in 2024, up sharply from under 5,000 tonnes in 2020. The growth trajectory is steep: Indonesia’s nickel output expansion is still running, and cobalt by-product volumes will rise with it.
The concentration of Chinese capital in Indonesian HPAL — CNGR, Huayou Cobalt, and GEM are among the operators — raises equivalent questions about supply chain sovereignty for Western battery manufacturers. For context on the country’s nickel dynamics, see Indonesia’s nickel sulfur supply challenge.
3. Philippines — c.4,500 tonnes
The Philippines produces cobalt as a by-product of nickel laterite mining, primarily from operations in Palawan and Surigao del Norte. Output is estimated at around 4,500 tonnes annually, sourced mainly from Coral Bay Nickel Corporation and Taganito HPAL — both involving Japanese capital through Sumitomo Metal Mining and Nickel Asia Corporation. Philippine cobalt feeds Japanese refinery supply chains rather than the spot market.
4. Russia — c.7,600 tonnes
Russia’s cobalt output, estimated at approximately 7,600 tonnes in 2024, comes primarily from Norilsk Nickel’s operations in Siberia — as a by-product of its world-scale nickel and palladium production. Sanctions imposed following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine have disrupted trade flows but not eliminated Russian cobalt from global markets. Russian material continues to reach Western supply chains via intermediaries, though battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs have largely sought to reduce exposure.
5. Australia — c.5,500 tonnes
Australia produces cobalt from several sources: as a by-product at Nickel West (BHP) in Western Australia, from historical operations at Murrin Murrin (Wyloo/IGO), and from newer projects including the Jervois Global Santa Cruz mine in Idaho — though Jervois’s Australian operations have faced care-and-maintenance periods amid low cobalt prices. USGS estimates Australian output at approximately 5,500 tonnes. Australia’s reserve base of around 1.3 million tonnes positions it as a significant long-run source if prices recover to incentivise marginal project development.
6. Cuba — c.3,500 tonnes
Cuba’s cobalt output — approximately 3,500 tonnes annually — comes from the Moa laterite complex in Holguín province, operated as a joint venture between Sherritt International (Canada) and the Cuban state. Moa is one of the few laterite operations outside Asia to have maintained consistent output through the cobalt price cycle. US trade sanctions restrict Cuban cobalt from entering American supply chains directly, but the material reaches European and Asian markets. Cuba holds an estimated 500,000 tonnes of reserves.
7. Papua New Guinea — c.3,400 tonnes
Papua New Guinea’s cobalt production comes primarily from the Ramu Nickel-Cobalt project in Madang Province, a HPAL operation majority-owned by Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) and Highlands Pacific. Output is estimated at around 3,400 tonnes per year. The project has faced infrastructure and community challenges since commissioning, but has stabilised as a consistent, if modest, producer. PNG material flows largely into Chinese refinery circuits.
8. Madagascar — c.2,500 tonnes
Madagascar’s cobalt output comes almost entirely from the Ambatovy mine — a large HPAL laterite operation in the Moramanga region operated by Sherritt International following the exit of Sumitomo and Korea Resources Corporation. Ambatovy has faced financial difficulties and operational disruptions, with output estimated at approximately 2,500 tonnes. Sherritt’s continued involvement is subject to ongoing refinancing uncertainty. Madagascar holds around 100,000 tonnes of reserve.
9. Canada — c.2,200 tonnes
Canada produces cobalt as a by-product of nickel mining, primarily in Ontario’s Sudbury Basin from Vale and Glencore operations, and from the historic Cobalt Silver District in Northern Ontario. Output is estimated at around 2,200 tonnes annually. Canada is notable for hosting refinery capacity — including Sherritt’s Fort Saskatchewan refinery — that processes cobalt from multiple origin countries. The federal government has identified cobalt as a priority critical mineral under its Critical Minerals Strategy.
10. Morocco — c.2,000 tonnes
Morocco produces cobalt primarily as a by-product of copper mining operations in the Anti-Atlas region, with output estimated at approximately 2,000 tonnes. Managem Group — the mining arm of the royal holding company SNI — is the dominant operator. Morocco is pursuing downstream cobalt processing capacity and has positioned itself as a potential battery materials hub for European supply chains under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act framework. Its proximity to European markets gives it a geographic advantage over DRC-origin material.
Cobalt Producing Countries — Summary Table
| Rank | Country | Est. 2024 Output (tonnes Co) | Share of Global Supply | Key Operation / Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRC | ~170,000 | ~71% | CMOC, Glencore, Ivanhoe |
| 2 | Indonesia | ~17,000 | ~7% | Huayou, CNGR, GEM (HPAL) |
| 3 | Russia | ~7,600 | ~3% | Nornickel (Siberia) |
| 4 | Australia | ~5,500 | ~2% | BHP Nickel West, IGO |
| 5 | Philippines | ~4,500 | ~2% | Coral Bay, Taganito (HPAL) |
| 6 | Cuba | ~3,500 | ~1.5% | Sherritt / Cuban state (Moa) |
| 7 | Papua New Guinea | ~3,400 | ~1.4% | MCC / Highlands Pacific (Ramu) |
| 8 | Madagascar | ~2,500 | ~1% | Sherritt (Ambatovy) |
| 9 | Canada | ~2,200 | ~0.9% | Vale, Glencore (Sudbury) |
| 10 | Morocco | ~2,000 | ~0.8% | Managem Group (Anti-Atlas) |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. All figures estimated. Global cobalt mine production approximately 230,000–240,000 tonnes in 2024.
What the Concentration Risk Means for Buyers
The top three cobalt producing countries — DRC, Indonesia, and Russia — together account for over 80% of global mine output. Of those, DRC and Indonesia have significant Chinese capital exposure at the operational level, while Russian material carries sanctions risk. For Western battery manufacturers, automotive OEMs, and defence procurement offices, this leaves a thin list of geopolitically accessible supply: Australia, Canada, Philippines (Japan-aligned), and Morocco.
The EU’s critical minerals strategy and the US Inflation Reduction Act both include cobalt in priority supply chain diversification frameworks, with financial incentives for sourcing from free trade agreement partners. Australia and Canada are the primary beneficiaries of these policies, and both governments have responded with cobalt-specific project support programmes.
For a detailed breakdown of which companies operate the largest cobalt assets across these countries, see the top 10 cobalt producers by company. For pricing and market context, the cobalt price tracker is updated monthly with LME spot data.
For broader context on how Western governments are responding to critical mineral supply concentration, see what are critical minerals and why they are classified as strategic.
Which country produces the most cobalt?
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is by far the largest cobalt producing country, accounting for approximately 70–72% of global mine output — around 170,000 tonnes in 2024 according to USGS data. No other country comes close: Indonesia, the second-ranked producer, supplies roughly 17,000 tonnes.
What are the top 10 cobalt producing countries?
Ranked by 2024 mine output: (1) DRC, (2) Indonesia, (3) Russia, (4) Australia, (5) Philippines, (6) Cuba, (7) Papua New Guinea, (8) Madagascar, (9) Canada, (10) Morocco. All figures are USGS estimates.
Why is cobalt production so concentrated in the DRC?
The DRC’s Katanga Copper Belt hosts the world’s largest and highest-grade cobalt deposits, which occur naturally alongside copper mineralisation. The geology is exceptional — reserves of 3.5 million tonnes dwarf any other country. Historical underinvestment elsewhere and the low cost of DRC production have reinforced the concentration over time.
Which cobalt producing countries are considered geopolitically safe for Western buyers?
Australia, Canada, and Morocco are the most cited geopolitically accessible sources for Western supply chains. Australia and Canada are covered by US free trade agreements and IRA critical minerals provisions. Philippines production is largely Japan-aligned. DRC and Indonesia carry Chinese capital exposure; Russia carries sanctions risk.
Is Indonesia growing as a cobalt producing country?
Yes, significantly. Indonesian cobalt output has grown from under 5,000 tonnes in 2020 to an estimated 17,000 tonnes in 2024 — driven by Chinese-backed HPAL nickel processing plants that produce cobalt as a by-product. Output is expected to continue rising as Indonesia’s nickel expansion programme continues.
