A Century of Annual Cobalt Import Values
Cobalt is used in rechargeable batteries, superalloys and industrial materials. This chart measures USGS annual import unit values per metric ton of cobalt content.
Annual cobalt import unit value: USGS estimates value per metric ton of cobalt content from import value divided by imported cobalt content. This is an import-value series, not a daily cathode spot quotation.
Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, and hover for annual values.
Detailed analysis of secular supercycles, wartime allocations, and price shocks
U.S. cobalt consumption depends heavily on imports. Import unit values capture the cost of the material entering the country and can differ from quotations for a particular cathode grade.
Nominal vs. Real Inflation-Adjusted Prices in 2026 USD
| Year | Nominal Price ($/metric ton) | Real Price (2026 USD) | CPI / Historical Estimate | Historical Context / Market Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $44,800.00 | $55,382.90 | 271.0 | — |
| 2020 | $34,500.00 | $44,653.47 | 258.8 | COVID-19 Durban Port Logistics Delays |
| 2019 | $37,900.00 | $49,659.28 | 255.7 | Artisanal Glencore & Katanga Supply Response |
| 2018 | $63,800.00 | $85,110.03 | 251.1 | EV Cathode Squeeze Peak ($95,000/t Spot in March 2018) |
| 2017 | $48,400.00 | $66,143.24 | 245.1 | — |
| 2016 | $25,500.00 | $35,590.59 | 240.0 | — |
| 2015 | $29,200.00 | $41,268.84 | 237.0 | — |
| 2014 | $30,600.00 | $43,298.81 | 236.7 | — |
| 2013 | $27,900.00 | $40,118.74 | 233.0 | — |
| 2012 | $30,500.00 | $44,499.81 | 229.6 | — |
| 2011 | $36,100.00 | $53,760.26 | 224.9 | — |
| 2010 | $39,700.00 | $60,987.57 | 218.1 | — |
| 2009 | $34,200.00 | $53,400.19 | 214.5 | — |
| 2008 | $68,400.00 | $106,420.40 | 215.3 | Pre-GFC Supercycle High ($115,000/t Spot) |
| 2007 | $54,600.00 | $88,211.30 | 207.3 | — |
| 2006 | $30,700.00 | $51,011.34 | 201.6 | — |
| 2005 | $33,600.00 | $57,630.97 | 195.3 | — |
| 2004 | $43,400.00 | $76,962.05 | 188.9 | — |
| 2003 | $20,600.00 | $37,503.20 | 184.0 | — |
| 2002 | $17,100.00 | $31,840.79 | 179.9 | — |
| 2001 | $23,300.00 | $44,071.34 | 177.1 | — |
| 2000 | $29,700.00 | $57,775.30 | 172.2 | — |
| 1999 | $33,700.00 | $67,760.06 | 166.6 | — |
| 1998 | $44,200.00 | $90,835.07 | 163.0 | — |
| 1997 | $46,300.00 | $96,632.86 | 160.5 | — |
| 1996 | $56,400.00 | $120,413.46 | 156.9 | — |
| 1995 | $58,300.00 | $128,145.24 | 152.4 | Sony Li-ion Battery Cathode Demand Begins |
| 1994 | $42,200.00 | $95,385.67 | 148.2 | — |
| 1993 | $31,300.00 | $72,559.68 | 144.5 | — |
| 1992 | $47,400.00 | $113,172.15 | 140.3 | — |
| 1991 | $25,100.00 | $61,732.73 | 136.2 | — |
| 1990 | $18,200.00 | $46,646.03 | 130.7 | — |
| 1989 | $17,300.00 | $46,735.11 | 124.0 | — |
| 1988 | $16,200.00 | $45,872.16 | 118.3 | — |
| 1987 | $14,700.00 | $43,346.88 | 113.6 | — |
| 1986 | $16,200.00 | $49,513.47 | 109.6 | — |
| 1985 | $23,800.00 | $74,094.09 | 107.6 | — |
| 1984 | $19,000.00 | $61,257.17 | 103.9 | — |
| 1983 | $14,900.00 | $50,112.47 | 99.6 | — |
| 1982 | $25,300.00 | $87,823.77 | 96.5 | — |
| 1981 | $36,900.00 | $135,981.98 | 90.9 | — |
| 1980 | $51,600.00 | $209,769.03 | 82.4 | 1980 Geopolitical Supply Squeeze Peak |
| 1979 | $53,300.00 | $245,928.84 | 72.6 | — |
| 1978 | $22,000.00 | $113,030.06 | 65.2 | Kolwezi Shaba Invasion (French Foreign Legion Parachute Drop in Zaire) |
| 1977 | $11,900.00 | $65,779.90 | 60.6 | — |
| 1976 | $9,410.00 | $55,398.27 | 56.9 | — |
| 1975 | $9,280.00 | $57,780.94 | 53.8 | — |
| 1974 | $7,520.00 | $51,096.34 | 49.3 | — |
| 1973 | $6,480.00 | $48,888.97 | 44.4 | — |
| 1972 | $5,230.00 | $41,912.57 | 41.8 | — |
| 1971 | $4,810.00 | $39,784.04 | 40.5 | — |
| 1970 | $4,880.00 | $42,131.51 | 38.8 | Jet Engine Superalloys & Magnetic Steels |
| 1969 | $4,070.00 | $37,149.01 | 36.7 | — |
| 1968 | $4,500.00 | $43,316.38 | 34.8 | — |
| 1967 | $4,370.00 | $43,828.22 | 33.4 | — |
| 1966 | $3,420.00 | $35,359.00 | 32.4 | — |
| 1965 | $3,480.00 | $37,007.31 | 31.5 | — |
| 1964 | $3,190.00 | $34,470.52 | 31.0 | — |
| 1963 | $3,180.00 | $34,811.65 | 30.6 | — |
| 1962 | $3,210.00 | $35,605.49 | 30.2 | — |
| 1961 | $3,280.00 | $36,746.97 | 29.9 | — |
| 1960 | $3,390.00 | $38,364.26 | 29.6 | — |
| 1959 | $3,930.00 | $45,239.57 | 29.1 | — |
| 1958 | $4,360.00 | $50,536.78 | 28.9 | — |
| 1957 | $4,410.00 | $52,571.59 | 28.1 | — |
| 1956 | $5,570.00 | $68,597.01 | 27.2 | — |
| 1955 | $5,460.00 | $68,245.93 | 26.8 | — |
| 1954 | $5,470.00 | $68,116.75 | 26.9 | — |
| 1953 | $5,070.00 | $63,608.56 | 26.7 | — |
| 1952 | $5,000.00 | $63,203.77 | 26.5 | — |
| 1951 | $4,420.00 | $56,946.60 | 26.0 | — |
| 1950 | $3,670.00 | $51,011.48 | 24.1 | — |
| 1949 | $3,550.00 | $49,965.50 | 23.8 | — |
| 1948 | $3,040.00 | $42,254.74 | 24.1 | — |
| 1947 | $2,920.00 | $43,862.85 | 22.3 | — |
| 1946 | $3,400.00 | $58,406.77 | 19.5 | — |
| 1945 | $3,660.00 | $68,112.60 | 18.0 | — |
| 1944 | $4,200.00 | $79,938.41 | 17.6 | — |
| 1943 | $2,920.00 | $56,539.98 | 17.3 | — |
| 1942 | $2,220.00 | $45,623.04 | 16.3 | — |
| 1941 | $2,600.00 | $59,248.16 | 14.7 | — |
| 1940 | $2,620.00 | $62,689.11 | 14.0 | — |
| 1939 | $3,100.00 | $74,707.77 | 13.9 | — |
| 1938 | $3,030.00 | $71,985.06 | 14.1 | — |
| 1937 | $3,140.00 | $73,044.25 | 14.4 | — |
| 1936 | $2,780.00 | $66,996.00 | 13.9 | — |
| 1935 | $2,530.00 | $61,861.27 | 13.7 | — |
| 1934 | $2,350.00 | $58,746.49 | 13.4 | — |
| 1933 | $2,550.00 | $65,707.62 | 13.0 | — |
| 1932 | $3,000.00 | $73,353.28 | 13.7 | — |
| 1931 | $3,620.00 | $79,778.13 | 15.2 | — |
| 1930 | $4,990.00 | $100,092.83 | 16.7 | — |
| 1929 | $4,940.00 | $96,772.00 | 17.1 | — |
| 1928 | $5,140.00 | $100,689.89 | 17.1 | — |
| 1927 | $5,120.00 | $98,568.83 | 17.4 | — |
| 1926 | $5,260.00 | $99,547.73 | 17.7 | — |
| 1925 | $5,450.00 | $104,322.34 | 17.5 | — |
| 1924 | $5,810.00 | $113,814.84 | 17.1 | — |
| 1923 | $5,950.00 | $116,557.37 | 17.1 | — |
| 1922 | $6,590.00 | $131,399.89 | 16.8 | — |
| 1921 | $6,450.00 | $120,705.08 | 17.9 | — |
| 1920 | $6,150.00 | $103,006.35 | 20.0 | — |
| 1919 | $4,770.00 | $92,361.54 | 17.3 | — |
| 1918 | $3,900.00 | $86,518.01 | 15.1 | — |
| 1917 | $3,890.00 | $101,802.52 | 12.8 | — |
| 1916 | $3,220.00 | $98,957.39 | 10.9 | — |
| 1915 | $3,180.00 | $105,468.95 | 10.1 | — |
| 1914 | $2,470.00 | $82,740.06 | 10.0 | — |
| 1913 | $1,390.00 | $47,032.55 | 9.9 | — |
| 1912 | $320.00 | $11,122.44 | 9.6 | — |
| 1911 | $300.00 | $10,748.71 | 9.3 | — |
| 1910 | $1,270.00 | $45,502.88 | 9.3 | — |
| 1909 | $2,920.00 | $108,389.75 | 9.0 | — |
| 1908 | $230.00 | $8,537.55 | 9.0 | — |
| 1907 | $4,680.00 | $167,404.15 | 9.4 | — |
| 1906 | $5,940.00 | $220,853.68 | 9.0 | — |
| 1905 | $6,060.00 | $225,688.61 | 9.0 | — |
| 1904 | $6,210.00 | $230,892.48 | 9.0 | — |
| 1903 | $6,050.00 | $224,574.65 | 9.0 | — |
| 1902 | $5,600.00 | $215,431.12 | 8.7 | — |
| 1901 | $5,590.00 | $224,108.46 | 8.4 | — |
| 1900 | $4,930.00 | $197,973.03 | 8.3 | — |
Targeted answers to high-frequency historical and economic queries
Commodities History Project. (2026). Cobalt Historical Prices and Inflation-Adjusted Series (1900–2021) [Data set]. CommoditiesHistory.com. https://commoditieshistory.com/cobalt
@dataset{commoditieshistory_cobalt_2026,
author = {{Commodities History Project}},
title = {Cobalt Historical Prices and Inflation-Adjusted Series (1900–2021)},
year = {2026},
publisher = {CommoditiesHistory.com},
url = {https://commoditieshistory.com/cobalt}
}