A long-term annual-average price series for cobalt is not yet published on Critical Minerals HQ. To preserve our strict no-fabrication rule we show only the live spot price plus the on-file fundamentals below — extended historical data will be added once a verified source is wired in.
Latest tracked price: $26,000 per USD/t (as of 2026-05-03).
Cobalt is a critical battery metal used in lithium-ion cathodes powering electric vehicles and consumer electronics. The Democratic Republic of Congo produces over 70% of the world's cobalt, creating significant geopolitical supply risk.
Cobalt is indispensable for high-energy-density EV batteries and aviation superalloys, with the U.S. 100% import-reliant and supply dominated by one politically unstable nation. Demand is driven primarily by Lithium-ion battery cathodes (NMC, NCA, LCO), Superalloys for jet engines and gas turbines, Hard metal cutting tools. Supply is concentrated in Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Australia, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Cobalt prices.
The latest tracked cobalt price is $26,000 per USD/t. Live spot prices are shown on the Cobalt live-price page.
A long-term annual-average series for cobalt is not yet published on Critical Minerals HQ. We surface only the live spot price and on-file fundamentals to avoid presenting unverified historical changes.
A long-term annual-average series for cobalt is not yet published on Critical Minerals HQ. We surface only the live spot price and on-file fundamentals to avoid presenting unverified historical changes.
A long-term annual-average series for cobalt is not yet published on Critical Minerals HQ. We surface only the live spot price and on-file fundamentals to avoid presenting unverified historical changes.
Cobalt is indispensable for high-energy-density EV batteries and aviation superalloys, with the U.S. 100% import-reliant and supply dominated by one politically unstable nation. Demand is driven primarily by Lithium-ion battery cathodes (NMC, NCA, LCO), Superalloys for jet engines and gas turbines, Hard metal cutting tools. Supply is concentrated in Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Australia, so output disruptions or trade-policy shifts in those countries are the main long-run drivers of Cobalt prices.