DRC: Copper is eclipsing cobalt in the race for critical minerals
In the first half of 2026, major mining operators in the DRC saw copper production rise while cobalt output fell. Glencore produced 397,000 tonnes of copper, up 15%, with 138,400 tonnes from its African assets, up 66%. Its cobalt output fell 46% to 10,200 tonnes.
Why it matters: This shift underscores the changing dynamics in the critical minerals market, a key theme in the briefing.