The global market for cobalt is crucial for various segments, particularly the production of rechargeable batteries. The dynamics of the cobalt market are now and again influenced with increasing requests from electric cars and portable electronics. Cobalt supply chain imbalance due to growth in demand.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounts for major portion of World’s Cobalt resources. Pricing and availability of cobalt are greatly influenced by DRC’s geopolitics and society. In case there are interruptions in the supply chain due to such reasons as political instability, strikes or changes in rules, then prices for cobalt would also be affected. As a result, investors and industry players have been closely monitoring this situation in the DRC because it affects market dynamics.
There is also an increasing evidence of ethical and environmental implications associated with mining cobalt. In some areas, cobalt mining has led to environmental damages through child labor practices at such places including Kolwezi where it is mainly obtained from copper ores extracted along with other minerals like nickel sulfide minerals during smelting process.Thus promotion of responsible sourcing and sustainability initiatives can enhance safety as well as social performance within such communities while ensuring sustainable supplies.To achieve this aim companies involved in sourcing chains have enhanced transparency as well as traceability.Consumer preferences and regulatory forces make markets dynamic thereby influencing demand levels.
Changes in battery research or new technological advances may influence how the cobalt market operates.In response to issues like shortage/ ethics related to mining operations, researchers are finding ways on how they can eliminate or reduce its usage in these cells.“Cobalt-free” or “Cobalt-light” battery technologies might have the potential to disrupt the cobalt market with impact on demand and cost.
The cobalt market is also affected by financial market factors. Economic indicators, geopolitical events and technological advances are all monitored by investors who consider them as possible causes of variations in the demand for and supply of cobalt. Cobalt related assets speculation and investment may lead to price fluctuations thus changing market dynamics.The global distribution of the product exposes it to external influence hence need for vigilance from concerned bodies.
Based on form, the cobalt market has been segmented into metal, chemical compound, and purchased scrap. The chemical compound segment held the largest share of the market with a market value of over USD 3,800 million in 2019. The organic and inorganic chemical compounds of cobalt find their use in various applications. Cobalt electrolyte is used in lithium-ion batteries for high-performance vehicles such as electric trains, electric cars, and bikes. It is also used in various electronic devices such as digital cameras and smartphones. Furthermore, the inorganic cobalt compounds are used to color porcelain, glass, pottery, tile, and enamel wear. Some of these compounds include cobalt blue, cerulean, cobalt yellow, and cobalt green. Inorganic cobalt compounds are also used as a catalyst. For instance, cobalt molybdate is used in the conversion of crude oil to gasoline and for removing sulfur from crude oil.
The market has been segmented on the basis of application into battery chemicals, superalloys, ceramics, and pigments, hard metals, magnets, binder materials, life science, and others. The battery chemicals segment dominated the market with a share of over 48% in 2018 and is projected to register the highest CAGR of around 8.5% during the forecast period. This is mainly attributed to the extensive use of cobalt in manufacturing rechargeable batteries for portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets as well as e-mobility vehicles including electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric trains, and electric bikes. Stringent regulations by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the EU’s environmental standards regarding CO2 reduction have led to a significant inclination towards the use of electric vehicles, which is driving the cobalt market.
The prominent players in the global cobalt Umicore (Belgium), Glencore (Switzerland), Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd (Hong Kong), Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd (China), Freeport Cobalt (Finland), Sherritt International Corporation (Canada), BHP (Australia), Eramet (France), Vale (Brazil), Votorantim Metais SA (Brazil), and Sumitomo Corporation (Japan), among others.
Some of the key strategies followed by the players operating in the global cobalt market are expansion, mergers & acquisitions, joint venture, and agreements.May 2023: The major focus of the Cobalt Congress was the dramatic price decline experienced over the past year. Discussions centered around oversupply in the market and weak demand due to various macroeconomic factors.
The growth of the global cobalt market majorly depends on the demand for rechargeable batteries. These batteries are widely used in a broad range of applications including electric vehicles and small portable electronic devices (mobile phones, notebook computers, games and power tools). Cobalt plays an essential role in lithium-ion batteries chemistry. Compared to other batteries, Li-ion batteries have superior energy, power density, and cycling ability. These properties are useful in electric vehicles, hybrid cars as well as storage systems used in renewable energy farms. The increasing use of Li-ion batteries in electric vehicles is expected to be the prominent factor boosting the demand for cobalt in the coming years. According to various industry experts, growth in the global electric-vehicle (EV) industry is likely to result in a four-fold increase in cobalt demand by 2020 (from 2018 levels) and an eleven-fold increase by 2027. Globally, a large number of governments have and continue to respond to the effects of climate change by raising fuel-economy standards and are promoting the use of EVs as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles. With the positive outlook of the EV market, the demand for cobalt is likely to grow significantly in the years to follow.
The other major driving factor for the market growth is the increasing use of cobalt for metallurgical uses primarily in high-temperature alloys (superalloys). The predominant user of superalloys is in the gas turbine industry, wherein elevated temperature strength and resistance to thermal oxidation are important for material consideration. Cobalt-based superalloys are widely used in the manufacture of jet turbines and industrial gas turbines (for power generation applications). With the healthy growth of the aerospace industry, the demand for aerospace engines and thus cobalt-based superalloys is expected to increase in the coming years.
Another application of cobalt-based alloys is in the production of cemented carbides to make hard alloys used in drilling tools. Cobalt can deliver wear resistance when used in castings and forging processes. Thus, the growing use of drilling tools in the construction and transportation industry is expected to favor the market growth during the review period.
Global Cobalt Market Revenue, by Application, 2019 (USD Million) Â
Sources: MRFR Analysis Global Cobalt Market Share, by Region, 2019 (%)Â
Sources: MRFR Analysis
The global cobalt market is studied with respect to five key regional markets—North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The regional market of Asia-Pacific held the largest share of over 42% of the global market in 2018 and is projected to register the highest CAGR of around 8.5% during the review period. The prominent regional economies, including China, India, and Japan are the major drivers of the regional market. China is the largest lithium-ion battery manufacturer in the world and also among the leaders in the EV market. In May 2015, China announced the Made in China 2025 initiative, which demands Chinese domestic firms to acquire significant domestic and global market share within ten advanced technology industries by the year 2025. Two industries within this plan, namely new-energy vehicles (primarily EVs) and aerospace, are likely to positively affect demand for cobalt chemicals and metals in the years to follow. India, the other major country-level market, announced its goal to eliminate the sale of non-electric cars by 2030 and incentivize manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries at the domestic level, which is further expected to propel the growth of the regional market during the review period.
The regional market in Europe held the second-largest market share in 2019. The stringent regulations pertaining to the fuel-economy standards and vehicle emissions, the use of EVs as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles is increasing. Various European Union (EU) member states such as France, UK, among others have agreed to ban new sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2040 and boost regional production of rechargeable batteries. This is expected to favor the regional market growth in the years to follow.Industry News
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