研究机构Cobalt Institute发布的《钴市场报告》（Cobalt Market Report）显示，电动汽车已经超越智能手机和个人电脑，首次成为钴的最大需求来源。
报告指出，2021年全球钴需求增长22%至17.5万吨，增幅创下新高，并且此种上升趋势将持续。随着电动汽车和混合动力汽车销量翻番，2021年电动汽车消耗了5.9万吨钴，占总需求的34%；移动手机的钴需求为2.6万吨；笔记本电脑和平板电脑为1.6万吨。
该研究机构预计，随着汽车行业生产更多的电动汽车，未来五年钴需求将从2021年的17.5万吨增至32万吨。虽然今年和2023年钴供应预计将增加，市场更加平衡，但从2024年开始供应将开始放缓。“从2024年到2026年，供应将平均每年增长8%，而需求增幅将超过12%。”并且，到2026年，电动汽车将占到钴需求的一半。
报告称，刚果民主共和国仍然是最大的钴供应国，占全球钴矿供应量的74%；中国仍然是全球最大的钴冶炼地（占原始产量的72%）；印尼是继中国之后精炼钴生产最大的增长市场。
原文如下：
Electric Vehicles Become the Major Driving Force for Cobalt Demand Growth in 2021
17 May 2022, Zurich. The Cobalt Institute’sCobalt Market Report, published today, confirmed the role of cobalt as one the key commodities of the green future, thanks to therapid growth of the lithium-ion battery market and a strong global uptake of electric vehicles.
David Brocas, Head Cobalt Trader at Glencore and Chairman of the Cobalt Institute’s Executive Committee, said: “Securing access to raw materials is crucial if the world is to achieve the sustainable and just transition to a greener future. Cobalt’s role in batteries and recycling makes it one of the critical materials of a climate-neutral future”.
In 2021, the cobalt market showed unprecedented demand growth of 22%. This upward trend is expected to continue, rising by about 13% per year for the next five years.
For the very first time in 2021, cobalt demand from electric vehicles overtook other battery applications to become the largest end use sector at 34% of demand. It is expected to ac for half of the cobalt demand by 2026.
Adam McCarthy, President of the Cobalt Institute, added: “As electric vehicles continue to revolutionise green and sustainable mobility, cobalt-containing batteries are a technology of choice for many car manufacturers in Europe, North America and China.”
In 2021, cobalt-containing battery chemistries aced for three quarters (74%) of the global electric vehicles battery market – this is largely due to their superior energy density, safety and performance ensured by cobalt.
