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The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the largest cobalt reserves in the world, at some * metric tons as of 2025. With the world's total cobalt reserves amounting to metric tons that year, the DR Congo accounted for **** of the worldwide reserves of the metal. This was followed by Australia, which held an impressive * metric tons of the global cobalt reserves in 2025. 

Cobalt: coveted, yet not so rare

Although cobalt is not especially rare – ranking 32nd in global abundance among metals – it has become an increasingly important commodity due to its use in batteries, as well as in alloys, chemicals and ceramics, cemented carbides, and more. It is forecast that in 2040, the global cobalt demand for use in batteries will amount to ** tons, up from * metric tons in recent years. Cobalt's use in batteries applies particularly to the batteries of electric cars which have transformed the demand for this metal; in 2025 the price of cobalt stood at ** U.S. dollars per pound.

U.S. cobalt consumption

The United States used some metric tons of cobalt in 2023, based on apparent consumption. Cobalt supply in the North American country is achieved primarily through imports and scrap materials. Most of the country's consumption of this metal is destined to the production of superalloys, followed by chemical and ceramic uses.