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Cobalt production — all countries

Cobalt production — Middle Africa

Cobalt production in Middle Africa in 2024 — 200,779 t. Since 1995, the indicator has risen by 11,922.7%.

2024 200,779 t +43.58% vs 2023
World rank —
Period maximum 200,779 t2024
Period minimum 1,670 t1995

Trend over time

1995–2024 · tonnes

Cobalt production — Middle Africa, 1995–20240100,000200,000300,000199519982001200420072010201320162019202220241995: 1,670 t1996: 2,000 t1997: 3,500 t1998: 5,000 t1999: 7,000 t2000: 11,000 t2001: 12,000 t2002: 14,600 t2003: 14,800 t2004: 20,200 t2005: 24,500 t2006: 27,100 t2007: 25,400 t2008: 42,461 t2009: 56,103 t2010: 84,005 t2011: 99,475 t2012: 86,433 t2013: 76,572 t2014: 76,475 t2015: 84,400 t2016: 69,038 t2017: 90,319 t2018: 109,402 t2019: 77,964 t2020: 86,591 t2021: 93,144 t2022: 115,371 t2023: 139,838 t2024: 200,779 t
Change over the period: +199,109 (+11,922.69%) Average annual rate: 17.96 %

Comparison, 2024

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

Middle Africa 200,779 t
World 270,816 t
Cobalt production — Middle Africa, by year Middle Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year t Change Change, %
2024 200,779 +60,941 +43.58%
2023 139,838 +24,467 +21.21%
2022 115,371 +22,227 +23.86%
2021 93,144 +6,553 +7.57%
2020 86,591 +8,627 +11.07%
2019 77,964 −31,439 −28.74%
2018 109,402 +19,083 +21.13%
2017 90,319 +21,281 +30.83%
2016 69,038 −15,362 −18.2%
2015 84,400 +7,926 +10.36%
2014 76,475 −97 −0.13%
2013 76,572 −9,861 −11.41%
2012 86,433 −13,042 −13.11%
2011 99,475 +15,470 +18.42%
2010 84,005 +27,902 +49.73%
2009 56,103 +13,642 +32.13%
2008 42,461 +17,061 +67.17%
2007 25,400 −1,700 −6.27%
2006 27,100 +2,600 +10.61%
2005 24,500 +4,300 +21.29%
2004 20,200 +5,400 +36.49%
2003 14,800 +200 +1.37%
2002 14,600 +2,600 +21.67%
2001 12,000 +1,000 +9.09%
2000 11,000 +4,000 +57.14%
1999 7,000 +2,000 +40%
1998 5,000 +1,500 +42.86%
1997 3,500 +1,500 +75%
1996 2,000 +330 +19.76%
1995 1,670 — —

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).