Cobalt is one of the most rare, expensive and sought-after metals on the market. But an investment in cobalt is far from foolproof. Investors in Australia should be wary of the dangerous and violent conditions that contribute to instability in cobalt acquisition before investing in cobalt stocks.
What is cobalt and how is it used?
Cobalt is a hard, metallic element used to manufacture batteries, magnets, paints and chemical catalysts. It’s rare, valuable and in increasingly high demand thanks to the rise of electric vehicles.
Over two-thirds of the world’s cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other major cobalt producers include Cuba, Russia, Australia and the Philippines.
Why invest in cobalt stocks?
It’s no secret that the tide of vehicle manufacturing is shifting. Thanks to environmental movements worldwide, electric vehicles have become less of a novelty and more commonplace than ever before.
And what do electric vehicles need to function? Batteries.
Cobalt is an essential part of the electric vehicle manufacturing process, as it’s a key component of lithium-ion batteries. Many industry experts expect the demand for cobalt to rise in the coming years with the projected impact of electric vehicles on the automotive market.
Risks of investing in cobalt stocks
A major risk facing cobalt investors is the location of the majority of the world’s cobalt supply: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Historically, the DRC has been marked by political instability and civil unrest. Volatile political shifts have the potential to impact supply chains and security for cobalt operators in the DRC is far from guaranteed. The process of cobalt mining is also fraught with conditions that violate human rights.
As a result of the unstable and violent conditions that surround cobalt acquisition, a number of companies that rely on it, including Tesla, are actively seeking a workaround to avoid overreliance on the difficult-to-procure metal. As electric vehicles become more popular, some manufacturers are working to develop methods of electric power that reduce or eliminate the need for cobalt.
That said, such a solution is still many years from mass production. Industry experts suggest electric vehicles will continue to rely on cobalt.
Cobalt stocks
Most of the companies on this list don’t deal exclusively in cobalt — the mining and refining of cobalt is typically conducted in conjunction with another metal. Most cobalt stocks require an international brokerage account to trade, as few of these multinational companies trade on Australian exchanges.
Company summary
Australian Mines Limited engages in the mining and exploration of mineral properties in Australia. The company primarily explores for cobalt, nickel, and scandium deposits. Its flagship project is the 100% owned Sconi Battery Minerals project located in North Queensland, Australia. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is based in Brisbane, Australia.
Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited engages in the exploration and evaluation of early-stage cobalt resources in Australia. The company primarily explores for cobalt. It holds 100% interest in the Broken Hill Cobalt project comprising five exploration licenses and two mining leases covering an area of approximately 220 square kilometers located in the Broken Hill, New South Wales. The company's projects also include the Kwinana Refinery Project and the Cobalt in Waste Stream Projects. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is based in North Sydney, Australia.
Sayona Mining Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mineral identification, acquisition, exploration, and development in Australia and Canada. It explores for lithium, graphite, and gold deposits. Its flagship property the North American Lithium project comprises 19 contiguous claims covering an area of 582.31 and one mining lease covering approximately an area of 700 hectares located in Quebec, Canada. The company was formerly known as DiamonEx Limited and changed its name to Sayona Mining Limited in May 2013. Sayona Mining Limited was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia.
Vulcan Energy Resources Limited engages in the geothermal energy, and lithium exploration and development activities in Europe. It holds interests in the Zero Carbon Lithium project. The company was formerly known as Koppar Resources Limited and changed its name to Vulcan Energy Resources Limited in September 2019. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Perth, Australia.
Aeon Metals Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration for and evaluation of mineral properties in Australia. The company explores for copper, cobalt, gold, lead, zinc, molybdenum, silver, nickel, and base metal deposits. Its flagship project is the Walford Creek Copper-Cobalt project located northwest of Mount Isa in Northwest Queensland. The company was formerly known as Aussie Q Resources Limited and changed its name to Aeon Metals Limited in August 2012. Aeon Metals Limited was incorporated in 2006 and is based in Sydney, Australia.
Historical performance
Compare domestic trading platforms
Some cobalt stocks, like New World Resources and Cobalt Blue Holdings, are available on the ASX. That means you can easily purchase them with any brokerage account in Australia. The table below compares some of the most popular Australian brokers.
But if you plan to heavily trade cobalt, you’ll want to compare international brokerage accounts that offer access to foreign exchanges.
Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
Bottom line
Cobalt plays an important role in our modern society, contributing to the production of batteries, magnets and chemical catalysts. While its primary production lines in the DRC are far from stable, experts believe we will continue to need cobalt to produce electric vehicles in the coming years.
To invest in cobalt, you’ll likely need an international brokerage account. Compare your platform options to find the brokerage that best fits your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Most rechargeable lithium-ion batteries contain cobalt. This includes batteries for smartphones, tablets, laptops and electric vehicles.
Over the past 10 years, the spot price for one pound of cobalt has fluctuated between $12 and $40.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.
Shannon Terrell is a writer for Finder who studied communications and English literature at the University of Toronto. On any given day, you can find her researching everything from equine financing and business loans to student debt refinancing and how to start a trust. She loves hot coffee, the smell of fresh books and discovering new ways to save her pennies.
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