Cobalt production — all countries

Cobalt production — BRICS

Cobalt production in BRICS in 2024 — 11,006 t. Since 1995, the indicator has risen by 130.8%.

2024 11,006 t +1.65% vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 13,700 t2020
Period minimum 3,840 t1996

Trend over time

1995–2024 · tonnes

Cobalt production — BRICS, 1995–202405,00010,00015,000199519982001200420072010201320162019202220241995: 4,768 t1996: 3,840 t1997: 3,965 t1998: 4,075 t1999: 4,600 t2000: 4,670 t2001: 5,310 t2002: 6,120 t2003: 7,280 t2004: 7,870 t2005: 9,020 t2006: 8,740 t2007: 8,740 t2008: 8,630 t2009: 8,550 t2010: 9,500 t2011: 9,200 t2012: 11,000 t2013: 11,900 t2014: 12,100 t2015: 11,700 t2016: 10,100 t2017: 10,700 t2018: 10,400 t2019: 10,900 t2020: 13,700 t2021: 11,397 t2022: 11,950 t2023: 10,828 t2024: 11,006 t
Change over the period: +6,238 (+130.84%) Average annual rate: 2.93 %

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: BRICS

BRICS 11,006 t
World 270,816 t
Cobalt production — BRICS, by year BRICS All countries CSV XLSX
Year t Change Change, %
2024 11,006 +178 +1.65%
2023 10,828 −1,122 −9.39%
2022 11,950 +553 +4.85%
2021 11,397 −2,303 −16.81%
2020 13,700 +2,800 +25.69%
2019 10,900 +500 +4.81%
2018 10,400 −300 −2.8%
2017 10,700 +600 +5.94%
2016 10,100 −1,600 −13.68%
2015 11,700 −400 −3.31%
2014 12,100 +200 +1.68%
2013 11,900 +900 +8.18%
2012 11,000 +1,800 +19.57%
2011 9,200 −300 −3.16%
2010 9,500 +950 +11.11%
2009 8,550 −80 −0.93%
2008 8,630 −110 −1.26%
2007 8,740 +0 +0%
2006 8,740 −280 −3.1%
2005 9,020 +1,150 +14.61%
2004 7,870 +590 +8.1%
2003 7,280 +1,160 +18.95%
2002 6,120 +810 +15.25%
2001 5,310 +640 +13.7%
2000 4,670 +70 +1.52%
1999 4,600 +525 +12.88%
1998 4,075 +110 +2.77%
1997 3,965 +125 +3.26%
1996 3,840 −928 −19.46%
1995 4,768

About the indicator

Cobalt production measured as contained metal, from U.S. Geological Survey data. Cobalt is needed for the cathodes of lithium-ion batteries, and its production is concentrated more tightly than that of any other important metal: more than two-thirds of the world total comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is because of that concentration that battery makers have spent recent years looking for chemistries with a smaller share of cobalt, or none at all.

Important: Cobalt is almost always mined as a by-product — together with copper or nickel — so its volume depends on the market for the main metal and not only on demand for cobalt itself.

Source: Mineral Commodity Summaries (USGS), license Public domain (work of a U.S. federal agency).