Congo Orders Ban on Exports of Copper and Cobalt Concentrates

The Democratic Republic of Congo has announced an official order banning the export of copper and cobalt concentrates. The policy is aimed at pushing more processing and refinement to take place inside the country rather than shipping raw materials abroad. Congo is one of the world’s most important suppliers of both metals, so any export restrictions can quickly ripple through regional smelting and trading markets. The order also signals continued efforts by Congo to capture more value from mining activity domestically.