The Democratic Republic of Congo, the world’s top cobalt producer is lifting its export ban starting October 16th. Congo will now control global supply through strict annual export quotas, the country’s strategic minerals regulator announced Sunday. For the rest of 2025, miners will be allowed to export up to 18,125 tonnes of cobalt, a key material in electric vehicle batteries. The ban, in place since February after cobalt prices hit a nine-year low, had triggered force majeure declarations from major producers, including mining giant Glencore. The regulator says 10% of cobalt exports will now be reserved for strategic national projects, and it can buy back any stockpiles that exceed company quotas.