Cobalt increased 9,310 USD/T or 38.31% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Cobalt - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.

The London Metal Exchange (LME) cobalt price serves as a benchmark for cobalt prices worldwide and is determined by supply and demand dynamics. This article explores the factors influencing the price, the importance of cobalt in various industries, and how market participants use the price to inform their decisions. It also discusses the impact of geopolitical events on the price and the recent volatility experienced. Overall, the LME cobalt price is a key indicator for the global cobalt market.

The futures price of cobalt ranged between 27,000 and 82,000 U.S. dollars per metric ton between August 2019 and May 2024. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis can be appreciated between March and July 2020, when cobalt futures prices dropped to around 28,500 U.S. dollars per metric ton. The first significant increase in this figure following the beginning of the pandemic was in August 2020, followed by a generalized increase throughout 2021 to the reach a peak of 81,860 U.S. dollars in March 2022. Futures vs. Spot prices Futures prices are delineated in futures contracts, which allow buying or selling a commodity at a predetermined price and date, helping investors forecast the market through futures prices. Almost 30 billion futures contracts were traded worldwide in 2022. In comparison, spot prices indicate the current cost of buying a commodity. For example, the average cobalt spot price in the United States was 31 U.S. dollars per pound in 2022. Cobalt in battery production Cobalt is a primary component of producing batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, used in various electronic devices, especially electric vehicles (EVs). EV batteries require a specific amount of cobalt, while conventional vehicles do not. With an increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries in EVs as the EV industry advances, the global cobalt market volume is expected to increase continuously by 2025.

Der durchschnittliche Preis für Kobalt weltweit hat sich im Zeitraum von Februar 2016 bis Februar 2025 wechselhaft entwickelt. Die Preisangaben beziehen sich auf den Handel an der LME (London Metal Exchange) für Kobalt mit einem Reinheitsgehalt von mindestens 99,8 Prozent. Im Februar 2025 belief sich der durchschnittliche Preis von einer Tonne Kobalt dieser Güte im Rohstoffhandel auf rund 21.400 US-Dollar. Internationale Vorkommen von Kobalt Im Jahr 2023 verfügte die Demokratische Republik Kongo über die größten Reserven an Kobalt weltweit – über ein Volumen von etwa vier Millionen Tonnen und damit über knapp die Hälfte der gesamten weltweiten Vorkommen des Metalls. Die globalen Kobaltreserven werden insgesamt auf 8,3 Millionen Tonnen geschätzt. Relevanz und Verwendung von Kobalt Kobalt gilt insbesondere aufgrund seiner Bedeutung für Technologien wie Akkus von Smartphones, Laptops oder E-Autos als Strategischer Rohstoff. Derzeit sind diese Produkte auf die Verfügbarkeit von Kobalt angewiesen. Es gibt keine substituierbaren Alternativen für Kobalt als Bestandteil für wiederaufladbare Batterien. Darüber hinaus wird Kobalt in der Glas- und Keramikindustrie verwendet.

Nickel increased 995.38 USD/MT or 6.51% since the beginning of 2025, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Nickel - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on March of 2025.