Democratic Republic of Congo has begun collecting samples for CMOC’s first cobalt shipment under a new quota system, officials said.
The shipment is expected within days, marking a cautious restart after a months-long export ban rattled global markets.
Congo supplies more than 70 percent of the world’s mined cobalt, a metal vital to electric vehicle batteries.
The export freeze pushed prices sharply higher, tightening supply chains already strained by rising demand for clean energy technologies.
A new quota regime launched in October allows 18,125 metric tons of cobalt exports in the fourth quarter.
From 2026, annual cobalt exports will be capped at 96,600 metric tons under the government’s control framework.
Glencore was earlier reported as the first miner to ship cobalt under the new system, testing regulatory procedures.
CMOC and Glencore, the world’s largest cobalt producers, received the biggest quotas, reflecting their dominance in Congo.
CMOC was allocated 6,650 tons for the quarter, while Glencore received 3,925 tons, officials said.
Government sources declined to specify the volume or timing of CMOC’s initial shipment from Tenke Fungurume.
A company source confirmed sampling had begun but said the first shipment may slip into January.
Like Glencore, CMOC will pay a 10 percent royalty under the new export terms.
Officials said sample results typically arrive within days, allowing loading to begin shortly afterward.
Mining groups warn the new rules could delay exports, risking further disruption to global battery supply chains.