As a result of challenges related to discovering, creating, allowing and mining copper deposits, the upper demand is being met by gradual progress of latest provide. Mines which might be in operation are typically fairly giant and function for many years as copper producers think about mine expansions and brownfield tasks aimed toward extending mine lifetimes.
Given these elements, traders ought to keep watch over the world’s high copper miners and their operations.
This checklist of the ten largest copper-mining firms on the planet is ranked by attributable copper manufacturing for 2024.
As firms’ reporting strategies for copper manufacturing differ, the Investing Information Community has calculated attributable copper manufacturing for the businesses under utilizing figures from firm experiences and knowledge from Mining Information On-line with a view to present traders with probably the most correct rating of worldwide copper manufacturing by firm.
1. BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP)
Copper manufacturing: 1.46 million metric tons
BHP is without doubt one of the world’s largest mining firms, and its world portfolio of property consists of important copper mining operations in Chile, Australia and Peru.
In accordance with the corporate’s quarterly operational assessment knowledge, the mining big reported consolidated copper manufacturing of 1.46 million metric tons throughout the calendar yr 2024.
Its most vital copper asset is the Escondida mine, the world’s largest copper mine. BHP holds a 58 p.c stake within the Chilean operation, which, based on MDO knowledge, produced 2.04 billion kilos of copper in 2024. The corporate wholly owns the Pampa Norte operations in Chile, which produced 586 million kilos of copper in 2024.
BHP additionally owns the Olympic Dam polymetallic mine, the most important mine in Australia. The South Australian mine hosts one of many world’s largest copper deposits in addition to the most important uranium deposit. In 2023, BHP expanded its portfolio within the state with its acquisition of OZ Minerals and its Distinguished Hill and Carrapateena copper operations.
2. Codelco
Copper manufacturing: 1.44 million metric tons
The Chilean state-owned Codelco is the world’s third-largest producer with copper manufacturing of 1.44 million metric tons in 2024. In accordance with its 2024 annual report, its copper output elevated 1.2 p.c from 1.42 million metric tons in 2023.
Its largest asset is the Chuquicamata mine positioned in Northern Chile, between 2017 and 2021 annual manufacturing was within the 700 million to 850 million pound vary. Nonetheless, decrease grades lately have led to manufacturing falling under 600 million kilos. In 2024, Chuquicamata elevated barely to 637 million kilos.
The mine transitioned from an open pit to an underground mine starting in 2019. In its report, the corporate acknowledged that section certainly one of its continuity infrastructure mission had reached 73 p.c completion and that plans for the second section have been present process feasibility research.
The corporate’s different important Chilean mines embody El Teniente, Quebrada Blanca and Andina.
3. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX)
Copper manufacturing: 1.26 million metric tons
Freeport-McMoRan is persistently ranked among the many world’s high copper producers, and its share of copper manufacturing from its mines totaled 1.26 million metric tons of copper in 2024. The corporate reported producing 4.21 billion kilos, or 1.9 million metric tons, of the crimson steel, calculated on a 100% foundation for all operations besides its Morenci three way partnership.
The most important contributor to its output is the Grasberg copper-gold mine in Indonesia. The mine itself is a three way partnership between Freeport and state-owned Indonesia Asahan Aluminum, with the entities holding pursuits of 48.76 p.c and 51.24 p.c respectively. In accordance with MDO, copper output for the mine in 2024 totaled 1.8 billion kilos.
Grasberg has undergone a transition from an open pit to an underground block cave, and enlargement work continues on the web site. As of the shut of 2024, the mine had 469 open drawbells.
Moreover, Freeport holds a 55 p.c stake within the Cerro Verde copper-molybdenum advanced in Peru. The mine routinely produces between 800 million and 1 billion kilos of copper and is anticipated to be in operation till 2052.
Its largest US based mostly operation is its 72 p.c owned Morenci mine in Arizona, which produced 700 million kilos in 2024. It additionally owns the Safford and Sierrita mines in the identical state.
4. Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF)
Copper manufacturing: 951,600 metric tons
Mining main Glencore’s copper manufacturing dipped by 6 p.c in 2024 to 951,600 metric tons from the 1.01 million metric tons produced in 2023. The corporate’s 2024 annual report attributed the decline to decrease deliberate manufacturing at its Antapaccay and Collahuasi mines on account of elements together with decrease grades, water constraints and geotechnical challenges.
Positioned alongside Chile’s coast, Collahuasi is the corporate’s largest operation, a 44/44/12 joint operation between Glencore, Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:NGLOD) and Japan’s Mitsui & Co. (OTC Pink:MITSF,TSE:8031). The mine produced 558,600 metric tons of copper in 2024.
The companions are working to construct a large-scale desalination plant designed to assist overcome water scarcity points. The plant reached 86 p.c completion in 2024 and is anticipated to start working in 2026. As soon as open, it is going to present 1,050 litres of desalinated water per second to the mine by way of a 194 kilometer pipeline.
Different important copper-producing property within the firm’s portfolio embody Antamina in Peru, Mount Isa in Australia and the Katanga Advanced within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
5. Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO)
Copper manufacturing: 883,462 metric tons
A majority-owned, oblique subsidiary of Grupo Mexico (OTC Pink:GMBXF), Southern Copper recorded 883,462 metric tons of whole copper manufacturing for 2024, a 6.9 p.c enhance over 2023. Within the firm’s 2024 outcomes, the corporate attributed the rise to greater manufacturing throughout all operations, with a ten.7 p.c enhance from its Peruvian property and a 4.3 p.c enhance from Mexican manufacturing.
The corporate operates main copper mines in Peru and Mexico and has exploration tasks in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.
Its largest copper-producing asset is the Buenavista mine in Northern Mexico, which sits atop one of many world’s largest porphyry copper deposits. In accordance with MDO, the positioning produces roughly 700 billion to 750 billion kilos of copper per yr.
Its different copper operations embody the Cuajone and Toquepala mines in Peru and the La Caridad mine in Mexico.
6. Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:NGLOD)
Copper manufacturing: 772,700 metric tons
British miner Anglo American reported a 6.5 p.c lower in copper manufacturing to 772,700 metric tons from 826,200 metric tons in 2023.
The corporate attributed the decline to decrease restoration and grades on the Collahuasi and Los Bronces operations in Chile, noting that the deliberate closure of the Los Bronces processing plant additionally impacted manufacturing. The corporate holds a 44 p.c stake in Collahuasi and 50 p.c in Los Bronces.
Along with Collahuasi, the corporate additionally owns a 60 p.c stake within the Quellaveco mine in Peru, with Mitsubishi proudly owning the remaining 40 p.c. The open pit mine began working in 2022 and, based on MDO, produced 675 million kilos of copper in 2024.
It additionally owns a 50 p.c stake within the El Soldado mine in Chile, which it operates in partnership with Mitsui, which holds a 30 p.c stake, and Mitsubishi Supplies (OTC Pink:MIMTF), which holds the remaining 20 p.c. Information from MDO reveals that the mine produced 48,200 metric tons of copper in 2024.
7. KGHM Polska Miedz (FWB:KGHA.F)
Copper manufacturing: 729,700 metric tons
Poland’s KGHM Polska Miedz Group has operations in Europe, North America and South America, and says that it controls over 40 million metric tons of copper ore assets worldwide. In 2024, KGHM produced 729,700 metric tons of copper, a slight enhance from the 710,900 metric tons of copper produced in 2023.
In accordance with MDO, KGHM’s largest operation is the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine in Western Poland. The mine has been in operation since 1968 and produces roughly 430 million to 440 million kilos of copper yearly.
The corporate’s Polish operations additionally embody the Rudna mine, which produced 338 million kilos of copper final yr, and the Lubin mine, which produced 156 million kilos.
Different choices beneath the KGHM banner embody the Robinson mine in Nevada, United States, and the 55 p.c owned Sierra Gorda mine in Chile.
8. CMOC Group (OTC Pink:CMCLF,HKEX:3993)
Copper manufacturing: ~502,600 metric tons
CMOC Group is a brand new addition to the highest 10 after its copper manufacturing jumped considerably in 2024, with its share of manufacturing from its three way partnership copper-cobalt mines within the Democratic Republic of the Congo totaling roughly 502,600 metric tons. On a 100% foundation, the corporate reported annual copper manufacturing of 650,161 metric tons.
The vast majority of CMOC’s copper manufacturing got here from its Tenke Fungurume copper-cobalt mine, an 80/20 three way partnership with the state-owned mining agency Gecamines. In accordance with MDO knowledge, the mine has skilled important progress over the previous few years, ramping up from 400 million kilos of copper in 2020 to 618 million kilos in 2023. In 2024, Tenke Fungurume’s copper manufacturing soared to 992 million kilos, or 450,138 metric tons.
Its different DRC mine is Kisanfu, a 71/24/5 three way partnership with Chinese language battery producer Modern Amperex Expertise (SZSE:300750) and the DRC authorities. The mine produced 200,013 metric tons of copper cathode in 2024, up considerably from 114,000 in 2023.
Copper manufacturing: 448,800 metric tons
Antofagasta’s share of copper manufacturing from its 4 three way partnership operations in Chile totaled 448,800 metric tons in 2024.
The corporate’s largest operation is its 60 p.c owned Los Pelambres mine, a three way partnership with Mitsubishi. In accordance with MDO, Los Pelambres’ copper manufacturing totaled 320,000 metric tons in 2024, up from 300,000 the earlier yr.
Its Centinela mine is one other important producer, with 224,000 metric tons of copper mined in 2024. The corporate is developing a second concentrator at Centinela that, as soon as it comes on-line in 2027, ought to add 144,000 metric tons of copper manufacturing yearly and lengthen Centinela’s mine life by 15 years to 2051.
The corporate’s different Chilean joint ventures are the Antucoya and Zaldivar mines.
10. Teck (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK)
Copper manufacturing: 358,910 metric tons
Rounding out the highest 10 is Canada’s Teck, which elevated consolidated copper manufacturing by 50 p.c in 2024, reaching 446,000 metric tons. On an attributable foundation, the copper firm’s manufacturing totaled 358,910 metric tons in 2024.
A lot of the acquire got here from the ramp-up of the Quebrada Blanca mine in Chile. The mine began manufacturing in 2023 and produced simply 122 million kilos of copper that yr. 2024 noticed a big development, with the mine producing 458 million kilos of the crimson steel.
Teck holds a 60 p.c possession stake within the mine, whereas Japan’s Sumitomo (OTC Pink:SSUMF,TSE:8053) controls a 30 p.c stake and Chile’s state-run Codelco owns the ultimate 10 p.c.
Teck additionally owns the Highland Valley mine in British Columbia, Canada. The mine is without doubt one of the largest open pit mines in Canada and produced 226 million kilos of copper in 2024.
Different copper operations within the Teck portfolio embody Antamina in Peru and Carmen de Andacollo in Chile.
That is an up to date model of an article initially printed by the Investing Information Community in 2016.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, maintain no direct funding curiosity in any firm talked about on this article.
