U.S. cobalt import share 2019-2022, by country of origin

Between 2019 and 2022, Norway accounted for one-quarter of cobalt imports into the United States, which made it the largest cobalt import source country for the U.S.

U.S. cobalt imports

Following Norway, approximately 15 percent of U.S. cobalt imports came from came from Canada between 2019 and 2022, with Finland in third-place during that period of time, having accounted for a 13 percent share of imports. Cobalt imports into the U.S. totaled an estimated 9,600 metric tons in 2023. U.S. cobalt exports amounted to an estimated 5,300 metric tons in the same year. The largest cobalt reserves are found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Australia, and Indonesia. Cobalt is primarily produced in the DR Congo, which produced an estimated 170,000 metric tons in 2023. This metal is commonly produced as a by-product of nickel and copper mining.

What is cobalt used for in the U.S.?

Cobalt is mostly used as a metal to magnetize as well as in high-strength alloys. The salts from cobalt have been used for centuries for its pigments to color jewelry and paints. One of its isotopes, cobalt-60, can also be used as a radioactive tracer and to produce high energy gamma rays. In the U.S., apparent cobalt consumption (including secondary uses) amounted to an estimated 6,400 metric tons in 2023. Nearly half of U.S. cobalt consumption was attributed to super alloys in 2020, and more than one-third was used for chemical and ceramic purposes.