Cobalt

Cobalt is a lustrous, silver-blue metal known for its strength, corrosion resistance, and high melting point. It is primarily sourced from copper and nickel mining operations. The leading producers of cobalt are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, and Australia. Cobalt is used in rechargeable batteries, superalloys, and catalysts.

Sub-Category	Abbreviation	Core Content Range	Size Range
Cobalt Briquettes	Co Briq	Co 99.8-100%	n/a
Cobalt Broken Cathodes	Co Broken Cath	Co 99-100%	n/a
Cobalt Cut Cathodes	Co Cut Cath	Co 99-100%	n/a
Cobalt Ingot	Co Ingot	Various	n/a
Cobalt Powder	Co powder	Co 99.8-100%	0-0.1 mm
Cobalt Rounds	Co Rounds	Co 99-100%	n/a

Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.

Metalshub provides producers and consumers of cobalt with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects over 2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of cobalt and buyers to discover new suppliers of cobalt.

For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows battery cell manufacturers, steel mills and other consumers of cobalt to digitalise their procurement process in order to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying, and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows miners, traders, and other sellers to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory, and optimise their sales book.

Cobalt prices can be tracked through:

• London Metal Exchange (LME)

Here are the primary providers that offer cobalt prices:

1. London Metal Exchange (LME): LME provides futures contracts for cobalt metal, using Fastmarkets’ cobalt price assessments as a reference. LME cobalt contracts help manage price risk across the supply chain​ (LME).
2. CME Group: CME Group offers cash-settled cobalt futures contracts based on Fastmarkets’ cobalt metal price assessments. These are primarily used by traders and manufacturers in the battery and electric vehicle supply chains​ (CME Group).
3. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence: Benchmark focuses on journalistic price tracking for cobalt, especially cobalt hydroxide and sulfate, which are vital for the battery industry. They provide detailed price data and analysis relevant to electric vehicles and energy storage​ (Benchmark Minerals).

Beyond these three examples, other providers may also provide prices.

The leading cobalt-producing countries are:

• Democratic Republic of Congo – ~65% of global production, the largest supplier of cobalt
• Russia – ~10%, producing cobalt as a byproduct of nickel mining
• Australia – ~5%, with cobalt sourced from both nickel and copper mining
• Canada – ~5%, focused on cobalt production from nickel-copper deposits
• Zambia – ~5%, a growing producer in the cobalt market

Some of the key producers of cobalt include:

• Glencore (Switzerland) – ~20% of global cobalt production
• China Molybdenum (China) – ~10% of global cobalt production
• Norilsk Nickel (Russia) – ~10% of global cobalt production
• ERG (Eurasian Resources Group) – ~<10% of global cobalt production
• Vale (Brazil) – ~5% of global cobalt production

Cobalt is primarily mined as a byproduct of copper and nickel mining. It is extracted from ore through smelting and refining processes, which yield cobalt metal, briquettes, and powder. The refining process includes several stages, such as leaching and solvent extraction, to achieve the desired purity for use in batteries, superalloys, and catalysts.

Cobalt is primarily used in rechargeable batteries (~55%), especially in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and electronics. It is also used in superalloys (~20%) for high-performance applications in aerospace and energy industries. Additionally, cobalt serves as a catalyst (~10%) in chemical reactions. Its corrosion resistance and thermal stability make it essential in demanding industrial environments.