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Cobalt Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global cobalt market is worth USD 7.0 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 13.7 bn by 2036, growing at a 7.0% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Cobalt sulphate is the largest by form segment.

USD 7.0 bnMarket size 2026
USD 13.7 bnForecast 2036
7.0%CAGR 2026-2036
ChinaLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global cobalt market is worth USD 7.0 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 13.7 bn by 2036, growing at a 7.0% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Cobalt sulphate is the largest by form segment.

ScopeRefined cobalt metal, cobalt sulphate, oxide and other chemicals consumed in batteries, superalloys, hard metals, catalysts and pigments.
IndustryChemicals and Materials
Value 2025USD 6.4 bn
Value 2026USD 7.0 bn
Value 2036USD 13.7 bn
CAGR 2026-20367.0%
Volume 2026246 thousand tonnes
Volume 2036397 thousand tonnes
Average price 2026USD 28,380 per tonne
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Cobalt market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global cobalt market is forecast to grow from USD 7.0 bn in 2026 to USD 13.7 bn by 2036, a rise of 97%Global market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 7.0%
Cobalt market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 6.4 bn; 2026: USD 7.0 bn; 2027: USD 7.5 bn; 2028: USD 8.0 bn; 2029: USD 8.5 bn; 2030: USD 9.1 bn; 2031: USD 9.8 bn; 2032: USD 10.5 bn; 2033: USD 11.2 bn; 2034: USD 12.0 bn; 2035: USD 12.8 bn; 2036: USD 13.7 bn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 7.0%.20257.0 bn20269.8 bn203113.7 bn20367.0% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 7.0 bn
2027USD 7.5 bn
2028USD 8.0 bn
2029USD 8.5 bn
2030USD 9.1 bn
2031USD 9.8 bn
2032USD 10.5 bn
2033USD 11.2 bn
2034USD 12.0 bn
2035USD 12.8 bn
2036USD 13.7 bn

Cobalt market segmentation

By form

Exhibit 2Cobalt sulphate is the largest segment by form, with 38.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by form
Cobalt market share by form, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by form. Cobalt sulphate: 38.0%; Cobalt metal: 34.0%; Cobalt oxide and hydroxide: 18.0%; Other chemicals: 10.0%.Cobalt sulphate38.0%Cobalt metal34.0%Cobalt oxide and hydroxide18.0%Other chemicals10.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Cobalt metal34.0%28.6%USD 2.4 bn5.2%
Cobalt sulphate38.0%44.3%USD 2.7 bn8.7%
Cobalt oxide and hydroxide18.0%18.3%USD 1.3 bn7.2%
Other chemicals10.0%8.8%USD 698 mn5.7%

By end use

Exhibit 3Lithium-ion batteries adds the most revenue by end use, growing from USD 5.2 bn in 2026 to USD 10.7 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by end use, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Cobalt market by end use, 2026 and 2036Revenue by end use in 2026 and 2036. Lithium-ion batteries: USD 5.2 bn in 2026, USD 10.7 bn in 2036, change +108%; Superalloys: USD 558 mn in 2026, USD 963 mn in 2036, change +73%; Catalysts and chemicals: USD 488 mn in 2026, USD 803 mn in 2036, change +65%; Hard materials and tools: USD 419 mn in 2026, USD 689 mn in 2036, change +65%; Others: USD 349 mn in 2026, USD 522 mn in 2036, change +50%.20262036 forecastChangeLithium-ion batteries+108%5.2 bn10.7 bnSuperalloys+73%558 mn963 mnCatalysts and chemicals+65%488 mn803 mnHard materials and tools+65%419 mn689 mnOthers+50%349 mn522 mn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Lithium-ion batteries74.0%78.3%USD 5.2 bn7.6%
Superalloys8.0%7.0%USD 558 mn5.6%
Hard materials and tools6.0%5.0%USD 419 mn5.1%
Catalysts and chemicals7.0%5.9%USD 488 mn5.1%
Others5.0%3.8%USD 349 mn4.1%

By source

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Copper-cobalt mine by-product61.0%57.0%USD 4.3 bn6.3%
Nickel by-product22.0%23.0%USD 1.5 bn7.5%
Primary cobalt mining and recycling17.0%20.0%USD 1.2 bn8.8%

By grade

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Battery grade54.0%60.0%USD 3.8 bn8.1%
Metallurgical grade28.0%24.0%USD 2.0 bn5.4%
Chemical and technical grade18.0%16.0%USD 1.3 bn5.8%

By supply channel

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Long-term contracts52.0%50.0%USD 3.6 bn6.6%
Traders and distributors30.0%30.0%USD 2.1 bn7.0%
Spot sales18.0%20.0%USD 1.3 bn8.1%

Top 25 countries for cobalt by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 94.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 98.5%.

Exhibit 4China is the largest country market at USD 4.7 bn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 79.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Cobalt market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. China: USD 4.7 bn, 68.0%; South Korea: USD 419 mn, 6.0%; Japan: USD 349 mn, 5.0%; United States: USD 349 mn, 5.0%; Germany: USD 209 mn, 3.0%; Finland: USD 140 mn, 2.0%; Belgium: USD 105 mn, 1.5%; India: USD 105 mn, 1.5%; France: USD 70 mn, 1.0%; Poland: USD 70 mn, 1.0%.China4.7 bn 68.0%South Korea419 mn 6.0%Japan349 mn 5.0%United States349 mn 5.0%Germany209 mn 3.0%Finland140 mn 2.0%Belgium105 mn 1.5%India105 mn 1.5%France70 mn 1.0%Poland70 mn 1.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1ChinaUSD 4.7 bn68.0%USD 9.7 bn7.4%
2South KoreaUSD 419 mn6.0%USD 782 mn6.5%
3JapanUSD 349 mn5.0%USD 563 mn4.9%
4United StatesUSD 349 mn5.0%USD 618 mn5.9%
5GermanyUSD 209 mn3.0%USD 371 mn5.9%
6FinlandUSD 140 mn2.0%USD 261 mn6.5%
7BelgiumUSD 105 mn1.5%USD 165 mn4.6%
8IndiaUSD 105 mn1.5%USD 247 mn9.0%
9FranceUSD 70 mn1.0%USD 124 mn5.9%
10PolandUSD 70 mn1.0%USD 137 mn7.0%
11United KingdomUSD 35 mn0.5%USD 60 mn5.6%
12ItalyUSD 29 mn0.4%USD 51 mn5.9%
13TaiwanUSD 29 mn0.4%USD 54 mn6.5%
14CanadaUSD 26 mn0.4%USD 52 mn7.3%
15SwedenUSD 23 mn0.3%USD 47 mn7.3%
16HungaryUSD 23 mn0.3%USD 49 mn7.9%
17IndonesiaUSD 23 mn0.3%USD 49 mn7.9%
18NetherlandsUSD 20 mn0.3%USD 37 mn6.2%
19BrazilUSD 17 mn0.2%USD 34 mn7.0%
20SpainUSD 17 mn0.2%USD 33 mn6.6%
21AustraliaUSD 17 mn0.2%USD 34 mn7.0%
22MoroccoUSD 15 mn0.2%USD 30 mn7.5%
23RussiaUSD 15 mn0.2%USD 27 mn6.5%
24AustriaUSD 15 mn0.2%USD 27 mn6.5%
25Czech RepublicUSD 12 mn0.2%USD 23 mn7.0%
Rest of worldUSD 103 mn1.5%USD 187 mn6.1%
Exhibit 5China and South Korea account for 78% of the USD 6.7 bn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Cobalt market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 7.0 bn. China: +USD 4.9 bn; South Korea: +USD 364 mn; United States: +USD 269 mn; Japan: +USD 214 mn; Germany: +USD 161 mn; 20 other countries: +USD 739 mn; Rest of world: +USD 83 mn. Market value 2036: USD 13.7 bn.Market value 20267.0 bnChina+4.9 bnSouth Korea+364 mnUnited States+269 mnJapan+214 mnGermany+161 mn20 other countries+739 mnRest of world+83 mnMarket value 203613.7 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • Glencore
  • CMOC
  • Huayou Cobalt
  • Umicore
  • Jinchuan Group International
  • Norilsk Nickel

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • Sherritt International
  • Vale
  • Eurasian Resources Group
  • Sumitomo Metal Mining
  • Gecamines
  • GEM Co., Ltd.
  • Ambatovy
  • Tengyuan Cobalt New Materials
  • Chemaf

Group 3: Emerging and niche players

  • Jervois
  • Electra Battery Materials
  • Cobalt Blue

Research methodology

Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the cobalt market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.

The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 7.0% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by form, by end use, by source, by grade, by supply channel. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.

Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.

Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.

Read the full research methodology

Frequently asked questions

How big is the cobalt market?

The global cobalt market is estimated at USD 6.4 bn in 2025 and USD 7.0 bn in 2026.

How fast will the cobalt market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 13.7 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 7.0% from 2026, an increase of USD 6.7 bn.

Which country is the largest market for cobalt?

China is the largest market by revenue at USD 4.7 bn in 2026, 68.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 79.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 9.0% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which cobalt segment is largest?

In the by form split, Cobalt sulphate is the largest segment with 38.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading cobalt companies?

Global leaders include Glencore, CMOC, Huayou Cobalt, Umicore.

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