Financial Performance - Huayou Cobalt expects to report record half-year earnings [1] Production & Projects - Huayou Cobalt is ramping up nickel projects in Indonesia [1]

Around 40,000 children are estimated to be involved in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some are as young as seven.See the relentless search for critical minerals in photos https://t.co/IjO9LGnSDJ ...

Around 40,000 children are estimated to be involved in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some are as young as seven.See the relentless search for critical minerals in photos https://t.co/Iw9GXmsCN4 ...

Core Viewpoint - The recent fluctuations in cobalt prices are closely linked to policy adjustments in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which significantly impact domestic cobalt-related industries and listed companies [3][12]. Group 1: Cobalt Price Trends - As of March 10, the average price of domestic cobalt reached 223,000 yuan per ton, marking a cumulative increase of 40.25% since the low point on February 24 [2]. - The cobalt industry has experienced a continuous decline over the past three years, with prices dropping approximately 80% [9]. - The DRC announced a four-month suspension of cobalt exports on February 24, 2025, to address the oversupply in the global cobalt market, which could lead to a 25% reduction in global cobalt supply [8][13]. Group 2: Impact on Industries - The increase in cobalt prices is expected to raise the cost of ternary power batteries for electric vehicles by approximately 1,000 yuan for every 60% rise in cobalt prices [4]. - The supply-demand gap in the cobalt industry could reach 25%, which is significant enough to drive up commodity prices [7]. - The price of cobalt sulfate, used in ternary materials, surged from 26.55 yuan per kilogram to 42.05 yuan in just ten days, reflecting a 58.4% increase [15]. Group 3: Market Reactions - From February 25 to March 10, the average stock price increase for four listed companies in the cobalt sector reached 21.41%, leading all sub-sectors [21]. - Companies like Luoyang Molybdenum Co., which is the largest cobalt producer globally, reported an 8.6% increase in stock price and are actively communicating with the DRC government regarding policy changes [22]. - The rising cobalt prices have also affected the recycling market for used batteries, with significant price increases reported for scrap batteries [18]. Group 4: Company Performance and Profitability - Companies such as Hanrui Cobalt and Tengyuan Cobalt are expected to benefit from the rising prices, as their profitability is closely tied to the prices of cobalt products [24]. - However, the revenue contribution from cobalt-related businesses is relatively low for many A-share companies, with cobalt products accounting for only 36.08% of Tengyuan Cobalt's revenue [25]. - The varying levels of benefit from the price increases will depend on each company's position in the supply chain and revenue structure [26].