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KEY POINTS
- Copper is gaining prominence in the DRC as prices and global demand strengthen.
- Glencore increased first-half copper production by 15% while its cobalt output fell 46%.
- Major miners are pivoting towards copper as cobalt faces export restrictions and weaker market conditions.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is increasingly shifting the focus of its mining industry towards copper as rising prices and changing market conditions reshape the global critical minerals landscape.
The change is becoming particularly evident among major mining companies operating in the country, including Glencore and CMOC, as demand for copper continues to strengthen while the cobalt market faces tighter export conditions and growing inventories.
The development could mark an important change in the DRC’s mining strategy, with the country positioning itself to benefit from strong global demand for copper, a metal considered essential to electricity networks, renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles and other technologies associated with the energy transition.
The shift towards copper is reflected in the latest production figures from major mining companies.
Glencore produced 397,000 tonnes of copper in the first half of 2026, representing a 15% increase compared with the same period previously. Of that total, 138,400 tonnes came from its African operations, marking a much sharper 66% increase in production from the continent.
At the same time, the company’s cobalt production declined significantly. Glencore produced 10,200 tonnes of cobalt during the first six months of the year, a 46% decrease.
The contrasting performance highlights the changing economics of the two minerals. While copper production is benefiting from strong demand and favourable prices, cobalt has been facing a more difficult market environment.
Cobalt has historically been one of the DRC’s most important mineral resources. The country is the world’s dominant producer of the battery metal, which is used in lithium-ion batteries and other industrial applications.
However, the market has been affected by weaker demand growth, changes in battery technology, increased supply in previous periods and restrictions affecting exports.
The DRC’s decision to restrict cobalt exports has also altered the dynamics of the market. With cobalt supplies facing tighter controls and inventories building up, mining companies are reassessing where they can achieve stronger returns.
The result is an increasingly clear divergence between the prospects for copper and cobalt.
Glencore and CMOC pivot towards copper
Major mining companies are responding to these market conditions by placing greater emphasis on copper.
Glencore’s production figures provide one of the clearest indications of the shift. The company’s substantial increase in African copper output contrasts sharply with its decline in cobalt production.
CMOC, another major operator in the DRC, is also strengthening its position in copper. The company operates the Tenke Fungurume mine, one of the country’s major copper and cobalt mining operations.
For miners, copper offers exposure to a broader and rapidly expanding global market. Its use extends well beyond electric vehicles and batteries, covering power transmission, construction, industrial machinery, renewable energy projects and data-centre infrastructure.
Copper’s growing importance is closely connected to the global energy transition.
The expansion of electricity grids, renewable power generation, electric vehicles and energy-storage infrastructure requires significant quantities of copper because of its conductivity and durability.
The increasing electrification of economies is therefore expected to keep copper at the centre of the global race for critical minerals.
For the DRC, which possesses some of the world’s largest deposits of copper and cobalt, this presents a major economic opportunity.
The country could benefit from rising copper prices and growing international demand if it succeeds in increasing production while improving infrastructure, processing capacity and the investment environment.
The changing balance between copper and cobalt presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the DRC.
Cobalt remains strategically important, particularly for battery supply chains, but its market is becoming increasingly complicated by export restrictions and changing battery technologies.
Copper, meanwhile, is benefiting from demand across several sectors of the global economy.
This means the DRC’s mining sector may increasingly prioritise copper as companies seek to allocate capital towards minerals with stronger long-term demand prospects.
The shift could also increase competition among global mining companies for access to the DRC’s copper resources.
Implications for the DRC’s mining industry
The growing emphasis on copper could have significant implications for government revenues, investment and employment in the DRC.
Higher copper production could increase export earnings and strengthen government revenues, while new investments in mines and related infrastructure could generate additional economic activity.
However, the country will also face pressure to ensure that increased mining activity translates into broader economic benefits.
Improving local processing, infrastructure and value addition will remain important if the DRC wants to capture more of the value generated by its mineral resources rather than relying primarily on the export of raw or semi-processed materials.
The emerging copper-first approach therefore represents more than a change in mining output. It reflects a broader transformation in the global critical-minerals market, with the DRC increasingly positioning copper at the centre of its mineral strategy.
