How did China become a leading producer of refined cobalt?

China became the leading producer of refined cobalt in the early 21st century primarily by processing raw materials sourced from abroad. While the Democratic Republic of the Congo has remained the dominant global producer of cobalt ore since 1920, the vast majority of the cobalt refined in China originates from these Congolese deposits.12

By importing this raw output, China established itself as the central hub for the refining process, transforming the mineral into the forms required for modern industrial applications, such as high-temperature alloys and magnetic materials. This strategic focus on refining capacity allowed China to dominate the supply chain for the metal, despite not being the primary source of the raw ore itself.1