Cobalt production in the world 2025
Cobalt, a critical mineral for lithium-ion batteries and high-performance alloys, is pivotal in the global energy transition and industrial applications. Its production is closely tied to copper and nickel mining, making supply dynamics complex. Concurrently, cement production underpins the global construction industry, shaping infrastructure while posing environmental challenges. This article examines cobalt production trends in 2025, key producing countries, and sustainability issues, alongside cement’s role in construction, supported by authoritative data and visualizations.
Global Cobalt Production: Trends and Outlook
In 2023, global cobalt mine production reached 230,000 metric tons, a significant increase from 190,000 tons in 2022, driven by demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage systems. Projections for 2025 estimate production to approach 250,000–260,000 metric tons, reflecting expansions in existing mines and new projects. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) dominates, producing 170,000 tons (73.9%) in 2023, followed by Indonesia (28,000 tons) and Australia (7,000 tons). The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts cobalt demand to reach 270,000 tons by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%, potentially outpacing supply if new projects face delays.
Cobalt is primarily a byproduct of copper and nickel mining, with 70% extracted from copper-cobalt ores in the DRC’s Copper Belt and 20% from nickel-cobalt ores globally. Batteries consumed 57% of cobalt in 2023, followed by alloys (13%), tools (8%), and pigments (6%). The rise of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, which use less cobalt, may reduce demand growth, but EVs and renewable energy storage ensure sustained need. Oversupply, however, has pressured prices, dropping from $81,767 per ton in August 2022 to $33,055 by August 2023, with a projected surplus of 21,000 tons in 2025.
Key Cobalt-Producing Countries
Democratic Republic of Congo is the world’s cobalt powerhouse, producing 170,000 metric tons in 2023, nearly three-quarters of global output. The DRC’s Copper Belt, home to mines like Tenke Fungurume and Kisanfu, holds 4.5 million tons of reserves, over half the global total of 8.3 million tons. CMOC Group, the largest cobalt miner, produced 114,165 tons in 2024 and plans to maintain 100,000–120,000 tons in 2025. Despite its dominance, the DRC faces challenges like artisanal mining, which employs 40,000 children, and political instability affecting export policies.
Indonesia emerged as the second-largest producer, with 28,000 tons in 2024, a 937% increase since 2021. Its nickel-cobalt mines, supported by Chinese investment in high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) facilities like the Huafei plant, supply 10% of global cobalt. Indonesia’s 2020 nickel ore export ban boosted domestic processing, with 90% of nickel smelters Chinese-owned. Production is projected to reach 30,000–35,000 tons by 2025. Australia produced 7,000 tons in 2023, primarily from nickel-cobalt mines like Murrin Murrin, with 1.2 million tons of reserves. Output may stabilize at 8,000 tons in 2025 due to weak nickel prices. Other producers, including the Philippines (5,400 tons), Cuba (5,331 tons), and Canada (3,100 tons), contribute smaller shares but are expanding.
Challenges in Cobalt Production
Cobalt production faces geological, economic, and environmental hurdles. As a byproduct, cobalt supply depends on copper and nickel market dynamics. High copper prices in 2024 spurred DRC output, but weak nickel prices led to shutdowns in Australia and Canada. Oversupply, with a 25,000-ton surplus in 2024, has driven prices to a 20-year low, prompting the DRC to consider export bans to stabilize markets. Geopolitical risks, including U.S. tariffs on Chinese refined cobalt (25%) and the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (effective May 2025), add complexity, requiring ESG compliance to access financing.
Environmental and social concerns are critical. In the DRC, mining depletes water resources and pollutes rivers, while artisanal mining raises human rights concerns. Indonesia’s HPAL facilities generate toxic waste, impacting local ecosystems. Recycling, currently less than 10% of supply, is a growing focus, with potential to meet 15% of demand by 2030. Technological shifts, like cobalt-free batteries, could reduce long-term demand, but alloys and catalysts ensure cobalt’s relevance.
Cobalt Production Data: Regional Breakdown
The table below summarizes cobalt mine production by key countries in 2023, with projections for 2025.
| Country | 2023 Production (Mt) | 2025 Projected Production (Mt) | Reserves (Mt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | 170,000 | 180,000–190,000 | 4,500,000 |
| Indonesia | 28,000 | 30,000–35,000 | 600,000 |
| Australia | 7,000 | 7,500–8,000 | 1,200,000 |
Visualization: Cobalt Production by Country (2023 vs. 2025)
Cement Production: Cornerstone of Construction
Global cement production reached 4.1 billion tonnes in 2023, with China producing 51% (2.1 billion tonnes), followed by India (400 million tonnes) and the European Union (180 million tonnes). The industry supports a $10.7 trillion construction sector, providing concrete for buildings, roads, and infrastructure. Demand is projected to grow by 12–23% by 2050, reaching 4.5–5.2 billion tonnes, driven by urbanization in South East Asia and Africa, where urban populations will increase by 2.5 billion.
Cement production is highly energy-intensive, consuming 100 kWh of electricity per tonne and relying on coal for 60% of thermal energy. This contributes to 5–8% of global CO2 emissions, with 2.6 billion tonnes emitted in 2023. Fuel combustion accounts for 40% of emissions, and limestone calcination 50%. Innovations like low-carbon cement, electric kilns, and carbon capture could reduce emissions by 50% by 2050, but high costs and slow adoption remain challenges.
Cement’s Role in Construction and Sustainability
Cement’s durability makes it essential for concrete, used in 80% of global construction projects. In 2023, the construction industry grew by 3.2%, with cement demand rising in emerging economies like Ethiopia, where consumption is projected to reach 19.97 million tons by 2025, up from 9.09 million in 2018. Environmental regulations are driving sustainability efforts. The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, effective 2026, will tax high-carbon cement imports, incentivizing alternatives like recycled clay-brick waste and cementitious adhesives. In 2023, 15% of cement kilns globally used waste-derived fuels, reducing coal reliance.
Cement Production Data: Key Regions
The table below outlines cement production and environmental impact in 2023.
| Region | Production (Mt) | CO2 Emissions (Mt) | Electricity Intensity (kWh/t) |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 2,100 | 1,200 | 100 |
| India | 400 | 240 | 95 |
| EU | 180 | 100 | 90 |
Interconnection: Cobalt and Cement in the Energy Transition
Cobalt and cement are linked through the energy transition and construction. Cobalt is essential for EV batteries, reducing fossil fuel use in industries like cement production. Cement, in turn, is critical for renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind turbine foundations (200–300 tonnes of concrete per megawatt) and cobalt mine facilities. Both industries face environmental scrutiny, with cobalt mining impacting water resources and cement contributing to CO2 emissions. Recycling cobalt from batteries and using low-carbon cement can align both sectors with net-zero goals.
Future Trends and Policy Implications
Cobalt demand is projected to reach 454,000 metric tons by 2040, with a potential 16% supply shortfall by 2035 if new mines lag. Production must grow at a 5.1% CAGR to meet demand, requiring $10 billion in investments for 25 planned projects by 2030, including the DRC’s Mutoshi and Indonesia’s Pomalaa mines. For cement, emissions must fall 16% by 2030 to meet Paris Agreement targets, necessitating policies like carbon taxes and subsidies for alternative materials. Global cooperation is vital to address cobalt supply risks, particularly in the DRC, and to scale sustainable cement technologies.
Diversifying cobalt production beyond the DRC and Indonesia can mitigate geopolitical risks, while recycling could supply 15% of cobalt by 2030. For cement, geopolymers and recycled materials could cut emissions by 40% by 2040. Governments must incentivize these innovations through tax breaks and infrastructure investments to ensure sustainable growth in both industries.
Sources
- Cobalt Statistics and Information
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/cobalt-statistics-and-information
Provides global cobalt production and reserve data for 2023. - Cobalt
https://www.iea.org/reports/cobalt
Analyzes cobalt supply, demand, and energy transition impacts. - Cobalt Facts
https://natural-resources.canada.ca/our-natural-resources/minerals-mining/minerals-metals-facts/cobalt-facts/24015
Details global and Canadian cobalt production and applications. - Cement
https://www.iea.org/reports/cement
Outlines global cement production and CO2 emissions. - World Bank - Industrial Production Data
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.IND.MANF.ZS
Provides global industrial production statistics, including cement.
