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DRC Halts Cobalt Exports, Shaking Global Supply Chains

DRC suspends cobalt exports to control prices, threatening global supply. As world's top producer, this move impacts EV batteries and electronics manufacturing worldwide.

This development matters because cobalt is essential for the global transition to clean energy and digital technology. As a critical component in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones, and laptops, any disruption in cobalt supply directly affects the production timelines and costs of these technologies that millions rely on daily. The DRC's control over 70% of global production gives it unprecedented leverage to influence prices and availability worldwide. This move could accelerate price volatility, increase manufacturing costs for electronics and EVs, and potentially delay the adoption of renewable energy technologies. It also highlights the geopolitical risks in concentrated supply chains, prompting companies and governments to diversify sources and develop alternatives, which could reshape global trade patterns and investment in mining projects outside the DRC.