A quarter of all cobalt used in Apple products came from recycled material in 2022, up from 13% a year earlier.

Mismanagement and corruption at state-owned companies have had a knock-on effect on ports and road transport, hitting efficiency and dampening investor appetite.

The case involves a firm allegedly tied to the Russian mercenary Wagner Group.

The restrictions have increased more than five-fold in the last decade to a point where 10% of the global value of exports is subject to at least one measure, the OECD says.

STL will produce copper cathodes, cobalt hydroxide, a germanium precipitate, silver concentrate and zinc oxides.

The problems around artisanal cobalt mining in DRC will take "a coalition to solve", according to Microsoft.