Copper prices rise in DRC as Glencore shifts focus due to cobalt quotas

Copper prices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have continued to rise, reaching 14,535.25 dollars per tonne during the period of September 14 to 19, 2026. This represents a 0.51% increase from the previous week and follows a sustained upward trend in recent months.

In response to DRC government export quotas on cobalt, mining company Glencore has shifted its operational focus toward copper. The DRC implemented an annual quota system to stabilize prices, capping national cobalt exports at 96,600 tonnes for 2026 and 2027. Consequently, Glencore reported a 39% year-on-year decline in cobalt output for the first quarter of 2026, while copper production rose by 19%.

Glencore’s DRC assets, including Kamoto Copper Company and Mutanda, are now operating primarily as copper mines that produce cobalt as a byproduct. The company has deferred final cobalt processing and is storing excess material in-country to manage the quota limitations. As the world's second-largest copper producer, the DRC's economic outlook remains heavily tied to these fluctuating mineral prices and production strategies.