Cobalt oxide trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in cobalt oxide was worth $777.2 million in 2024, about 70.9 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 11% since 2017, and up 8% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $777.2M | 70.9K t |
| 2023 | $720.8M | 63.5K t |
| 2022 | $1.55B | 67.4K t |
| 2021 | $1.03B | 47.4K t |
| 2020 | $677.2M | 37.1K t |
| 2019 | $688.5M | 25.4K t |
| 2018 | $1.50B | 31.3K t |
| 2017 | $878.2M | 28.1K t |
Top cobalt oxide exporting countries
The DR Congo is the largest exporter with 29% of world exports, followed by Finland and Namibia. The top three supply 62% between them, out of 59 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $222.3M | 29% |
| Finland | $139.9M | 18% |
| Namibia | $118.9M | 15% |
| China | $93.7M | 12% |
| Zambia | $82.0M | 11% |
| Belgium | $60.6M | 7.8% |
| United Kingdom | $15.5M | 2% |
| Taiwan | $13.2M | 1.7% |
| Germany | $5.0M | 0.6% |
| Italy | $3.2M | 0.4% |
| United States | $3.2M | 0.4% |
| Brazil | $3.2M | 0.4% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are Namibia (18%), China (11%) and South Korea (11%). 110 countries imported it, and the top three take 40% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $143.8M | 19% |
| China | $88.6M | 11% |
| South Korea | $82.0M | 11% |
| South Africa | $79.4M | 10% |
| Zambia | $67.2M | 8.7% |
| Belgium | $61.5M | 7.9% |
| United States | $39.7M | 5.1% |
| Germany | $26.7M | 3.4% |
| Spain | $18.1M | 2.3% |
| Japan | $17.7M | 2.3% |
| Saudi Arabia | $16.8M | 2.2% |
| Switzerland | $15.1M | 2% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $10.96 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Taiwan averaged $32.08 per kg and Zambia $8.55 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2822: Cobalt oxides and hydroxides; commercial cobalt oxides. HS 2822 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most cobalt oxide?
The DR Congo exported $222.3 million in 2024, 29% of the world total, followed by Finland (18%) and Namibia (15%). In all, 59 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most cobalt oxide?
Namibia imported $143.8 million in 2024, 18% of world imports, ahead of China (11%) and South Korea (11%). The top three importers together take 40%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in cobalt oxide?
It was worth $777.2 million in 2024, about 70.9 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 11% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $1.55 billion. 59 countries reported exports and 110 reported imports.
What is the average price of cobalt oxide per kg?
The world average declared value was about $10.96 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Taiwan averaged $32.08 per kg and Zambia $8.55 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for cobalt oxide?
The HS code for cobalt oxide is heading 2822, in chapter 28 (inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 2822 page.
How can I find cobalt oxide buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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