The Democratic Republic of Congo's strategic minerals regulator announced that it will lift its ban on cobalt exports as of 16 October and manage global supply by imposing annual export quotas. Congo, which produced about 70% of global cobalt output last year, suspended exports in February after prices fell to a nine-year low. The move was extended in June, prompting force majeure declarations from major producers including Glencore and China’s CMOC Group. Congo’s largely unregulated artisanal mining sector accounts for a significant share of cobalt output, complicating traceability and compliance for global buyers. The regulator can buy back cobalt stocks exceeding the quarterly authorised quotas per company, said the statement signed by its chairman.