Cobalt production — all countries

Cobalt production — OECD

Cobalt production in the OECD in 2024 — 8,100 t. Since 1995, the indicator has risen by 31.4%.

2024 8,100 t −14.19% vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 13,743 t2008
Period minimum 6,163 t1995

Trend over time

1995–2024 · tonnes

Cobalt production — OECD, 1995–20246,0008,00010,00012,00014,000199519982001200420072010201320162019202220241995: 6,163 t1996: 6,656 t1997: 6,928 t1998: 7,130 t1999: 6,333 t2000: 8,896 t2001: 9,638 t2002: 10,002 t2003: 9,447 t2004: 9,610 t2005: 9,877 t2006: 12,165 t2007: 13,432 t2008: 13,743 t2009: 8,549 t2010: 8,486 t2011: 10,686 t2012: 9,578 t2013: 10,405 t2014: 10,108 t2015: 10,369 t2016: 9,686 t2017: 9,504 t2018: 8,424 t2019: 9,036 t2020: 10,074 t2021: 9,656 t2022: 8,850 t2023: 9,440 t2024: 8,100 t
Change over the period: +1,937 (+31.43%) Average annual rate: 0.95 %

Comparison, 2024

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

OECD 8,100 t
World 270,816 t
Cobalt production — OECD, by year OECD All countries CSV XLSX
Year t Change Change, %
2024 8,100 −1,340 −14.19%
2023 9,440 +590 +6.67%
2022 8,850 −806 −8.35%
2021 9,656 −418 −4.15%
2020 10,074 +1,038 +11.49%
2019 9,036 +612 +7.26%
2018 8,424 −1,080 −11.36%
2017 9,504 −182 −1.88%
2016 9,686 −683 −6.59%
2015 10,369 +261 +2.58%
2014 10,108 −297 −2.85%
2013 10,405 +827 +8.63%
2012 9,578 −1,108 −10.37%
2011 10,686 +2,200 +25.93%
2010 8,486 −63 −0.74%
2009 8,549 −5,194 −37.79%
2008 13,743 +311 +2.32%
2007 13,432 +1,267 +10.42%
2006 12,165 +2,288 +23.16%
2005 9,877 +267 +2.78%
2004 9,610 +163 +1.73%
2003 9,447 −555 −5.55%
2002 10,002 +364 +3.78%
2001 9,638 +741 +8.33%
2000 8,896 +2,563 +40.47%
1999 6,333 −797 −11.17%
1998 7,130 +202 +2.92%
1997 6,928 +272 +4.09%
1996 6,656 +493 +8%
1995 6,163

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).