The ten biggest cobalt-mining countries ranked by estimated 2025 mine production in tonnes of cobalt content, from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, with two ties broken by 2024 output.
Congo (Kinshasa) is the world's largest cobalt miner, with an estimated 230,000 tonnes of cobalt content in 2025. Indonesia is second at 44,000 tonnes and Russia third at 7,700 tonnes. The ranking uses USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (February 2026) estimates of 2025 cobalt mine production for the countries the chapter lists individually.
World cobalt mine production was an estimated 310,000 tonnes of cobalt content in 2025, up from 302,000 tonnes in 2024 (both USGS rounded totals). One country dominates: the U.S. Geological Survey says Congo (Kinshasa) was the world's leading source of mined cobalt and accounted for an estimated 73% of the world total, followed by Indonesia with 14%. In February 2025, Congo (Kinshasa) temporarily banned cobalt exports to address market oversupply and low prices; in October the ban was replaced with export quotas, according to USGS. Mine output is not the same as refining: USGS says China remained the world's leading producer of refined cobalt and its leading consumer, primarily for the lithium-ion battery industry.
Congo (Kinshasa) mined an estimated 230,000 tonnes of cobalt in 2025, up from 226,000 tonnes in 2024, and USGS puts its share of world output at an estimated 73%. It also holds the largest reserves of any country in the table, 6,000,000 tonnes.
Indonesia produced an estimated 44,000 tonnes in 2025, up from 35,000 tonnes in 2024, and USGS says it accounted for 14% of the world total. Its reserves are 760,000 tonnes.
Russia mined an estimated 7,700 tonnes of cobalt in 2025, compared with 8,000 tonnes in 2024. Its reserves of 800,000 tonnes come from the Russia Ministry of Natural Resources, according to USGS.
Madagascar produced an estimated 3,900 tonnes in 2025, up from 3,100 tonnes in 2024, and holds reserves of 100,000 tonnes.
Australia's output fell to an estimated 3,700 tonnes in 2025 from 4,780 tonnes in 2024. It ties the Philippines on 2025 output and ranks ahead on its higher 2024 production. Its reserves of 1,700,000 tonnes are the second largest of any country in the table; 680,000 tons are JORC-compliant or equivalent.
The Philippines produced an estimated 3,700 tonnes in 2025, up from 3,100 tonnes in 2024, level with Australia but behind it on 2024 output. Its reserves are 260,000 tonnes.
Canada mined an estimated 3,500 tonnes of cobalt in 2025, up from 3,350 tonnes in 2024, and holds reserves of 220,000 tonnes.
Papua New Guinea produced an estimated 2,800 tonnes in 2025, up from 2,630 tonnes in 2024. Its reserves, revised by USGS in this edition, are 84,000 tonnes.
Cuba's output dropped to an estimated 2,000 tonnes in 2025 from 3,450 tonnes in 2024, the largest decline in the table in both absolute and percentage terms. It ties China on 2025 output and ranks ahead on its higher 2024 production. Its reserves are 500,000 tonnes.
China mined an estimated 2,000 tonnes of cobalt in 2025, the same as in 2024, and holds reserves of 160,000 tonnes. USGS says China remained the world's leading producer of refined cobalt and its leading consumer, primarily for the lithium-ion battery industry.
| # | Name | 2024 output (t) | Reserves (t) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Congo (Kinshasa) | 226000 | 6000000 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 35000 | 760000 |
| 3 | Russia | 8000 | 800000 |
| 4 | Madagascar | 3100 | 100000 |
| 5 | Australia | 4780 | 1700000 |
| 6 | Philippines | 3100 | 260000 |
| 7 | Canada | 3350 | 220000 |
| 8 | Papua New Guinea | 2630 | 84000 |
| 9 | Cuba | 3450 | 500000 |
| 10 | China | 2000 | 160000 |
Ranked by estimated 2025 cobalt mine production in metric tons of cobalt content, from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (February 2026) cobalt chapter, World Mine Production and Reserves table. The table's mine production heading is marked 'e' (estimated). Only countries USGS lists individually are ranked; the 'other countries' group (9,100 tonnes in 2025, 7,780 in 2024) is excluded, so a country inside that group could in principle exceed the lower entries here. Two ties are broken by 2024 output from the same table: Australia and the Philippines both produced 3,700 tonnes in 2025 (Australia 4,780 tonnes in 2024, Philippines 3,100), and Cuba and China both produced 2,000 tonnes (Cuba 3,450 tonnes in 2024, China 2,000). There is no tie at 10th: China (2,000 tonnes) is ahead of 11th-placed Turkey (1,900 tonnes). USGS made significant revisions to 2024 production for Australia, Canada and Indonesia based on company and government reports, and revised reserves for Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Russia and 'other countries'. Reserves are as published: for Australia, JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 680,000 tons, and Russia's reserves are data from the Russia Ministry of Natural Resources. The 73% and 14% world shares are as stated by USGS. 2025 figures are USGS estimates and may be revised.
Congo (Kinshasa), with an estimated 230,000 tonnes of cobalt content in 2025 according to the USGS, which says it accounted for an estimated 73% of the world total. Indonesia (44,000 tonnes, 14%) and Russia (7,700 tonnes) follow.
USGS estimates world cobalt mine production at 310,000 tonnes in 2025, up from 302,000 tonnes in 2024 (rounded totals). World reserves are 12,000,000 tonnes, and identified world terrestrial cobalt resources are about 25 million tons.
In February 2025, Congo (Kinshasa) temporarily banned cobalt exports to address market oversupply and low prices. In October, USGS says, the ban was replaced with export quotas of 18,125 tons of contained cobalt for the remainder of 2025, and up to 96,600 tons of contained cobalt per year in 2026 and 2027, inclusive of 9,600 tons for national strategic reserves.
Congo (Kinshasa), with 6,000,000 tonnes in the USGS table, followed by Australia (1,700,000 tonnes, of which 680,000 tons are JORC-compliant or equivalent) and Russia (800,000 tonnes).
This list counts cobalt mined, not refined. China mined an estimated 2,000 tonnes in 2025, but USGS says it remained the world's leading producer of refined cobalt and the leading consumer, primarily for the lithium-ion battery industry.
No. The production figures are USGS estimates published in February 2026 and may be revised; USGS already made significant revisions to 2024 production for Australia, Canada and Indonesia in this edition.