U.S. cobalt import share 2021-2024, by country of origin

Between 2021 and 2024, Norway accounted for ***-******* 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 ** percent of U.S. cobalt imports came from Finland between 2020 and 2023, with Canada and Japan in third-place during that period of time, having accounted for a ** percent share of imports each. Cobalt imports into the U.S. totaled an estimated ****** metric tons in 2025. U.S. cobalt exports amounted to an estimated ******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 ******* metric tons in 2025. 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 ***** metric tons in 2025. Nearly half of U.S. cobalt consumption was attributed to super alloys in 2021, and more than one-fourth was used for chemical and ceramic purposes.