Apple in talks to buy cobalt directly from miners: Report

FILE PHOTO - Customers can be seen inside the Apple store in central Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2016. REUTERS/David Gray/File photo

Apple is in talks to buy long-term supplies of cobalt for iPhone batteries directly from miners, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

The iPhone maker is seeking contracts to buy several thousand metric tons of cobalt for five years or longer, Bloomberg reported, citing an anonymous source.

Cobalt prices have skyrocketed of late due to an expected growth in demand for electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Apple may end up deciding not to go ahead with a deal, the report said, citing another source.

Apple was not immediately available for comment outside regular business hours.

(Reporting by Mekhla Raina in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair)