Glencore subsidiary Katanga Mining has suspended cobalt exports in the Democratic Republic of Congo after finding "unacceptable" levels of uranium in its hydroxide concentrate.

Katanga said it had suspended exports and sales "until further notice", with 1472 tonnes of finished cobalt already impacted.

RBC Capital Markets said the suspension meant that 25% of global cobalt sales were to be delayed until the second half of 2019.

One positive given by Katanga was that the low levels of radioactivity detected had not presented a health and safety risk, although Katanga said the levels were over the acceptable limit allowed for export through main African ports to customers.

To combat the issue, the company will build ...