Cobalt Price in China Falls 2.4% to USD 39,361/tonne
Cobalt in China has declined 13.6% over the month and sits 2.4% lower week-on-week at USD 39,361/tonne as of 2026-10-01.
Cobalt in China was quoted at USD 39,361/tonne as of 2026-10-01, down 2.4% from USD 40,342/tonne on 2026-09-24. The month change stands at -13.6% from USD 45,535/tonne on 2026-09-01, and the quarter change is -29.9% from USD 56,183/tonne on 2026-07-03. The year change is -17.4% from USD 47,657/tonne on 2025-10-01. The 52-week high is USD 66,320/tonne on 2026-01-06 and the 52-week low is USD 39,115/tonne on 2026-09-29.
Shanghai Metals Market reported that China's cobalt metal imports fell 4% month-on-month in August 2026, while exports rose 55% due to favorable arbitrage margins. The same source noted that typhoons Dolphin and Saudel disrupted East China port operations in August 2026, delaying cobalt intermediate arrivals until September.
Supply pressure from the DRC is relevant to Chinese arrivals: Shanghai Metals Market reported that DRC cobalt hydroxide exports surged 92.9% in June 2026, leading to a concentrated influx of arrivals in China during August and September.
Claight market monitoring shows that nine Chinese government agencies issued a directive on September 11, 2026, to coordinate the management of extraction and recycling for key minerals including cobalt. Claight market monitoring also shows Chinese ternary battery precursor production is projected to fall by approximately 3% in September 2026, missing seasonal peak expectations.