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Zaire Cobalt
Zaire has traditionally been the world's largest
producer and
exporter of cobalt, accounting for about half of all
production.
Cobalt production in Zaire is entirely a byproduct of
copper mining
by Gécamines. The company produced 9,429 tons of cobalt in
1989 and
10,033 tons in 1990, but production fell to 8,800 tons in
1991 and
to 6,600 tons in 1992. Production in 1993 was projected to
fall to
about 3,500 tons. World cobalt prices are extremely
volatile, and
true to form they fluctuated dramatically in the 1980s and
early
1990s. The market price rose temporarily in early 1992,
but because
of its reduced production, Zaire was not able to
capitalize on this
favorable situation.
Data as of December 1993
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