The copper industry has been one of the leading industries in the world for centuries. With the use of the metal increasing in a variety of applications and technology advancement, copper has become an integral part of the global economy. As such, there is no surprise that over the years, the copper industry has seen a significant and consistent growth.
The top 10 copper producing companies across the globe are major stakeholders in the copper industry that have been producing and delivering copper concentrate and other copper-related products on a significant scale. This article looks at the updated list of copper producing companies as of 2023.
1. Codelco (Chile) – Nearly 6 million tonnes produced
Codelco is the world’s largest copper miner and it operates in twelve mines in Chile, making it the leader in copper production globally. It contributes around 9% of the world’s copper consumption. While Codelco continues to be profitable, it faces dwindling ore grades and a complex mining environment.
2. Southern Copper Corporation (Mexico) – 1.8 million tonnes produced
Southern Copper Corporation is a publicly-traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As of 2023, it is the second largest copper producer globally with mines in Peru and Mexico. Southern Copper exports a significant amount of its copper concentrate to other countries, and utilizes copper for a number of applications such as manufacturing.
3. BHP Group (Australia) – 1.42 million tonnes produced
BHP Group is involved in a variety of industries, including copper mining. As one of the biggest copper producers, it produces around 4% of the global copper market requirements. BHP has copper operations in Chile, the US and Australia, as well as a joint venture in Peru.
4. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (USA) – 1.36 million tonnes produced
Freeport-McMoRan is one of the leading copper producing companies in the world. Operating in North America, it controls copper reserves and mining operations in countries such as the United States, Mexico and Peru. Freeport enables customers to obtain copper concentrate and copper cathodes from its copper mines.
5. Rio Tinto (Australia) – 1.35 million tonnes produced
Rio Tinto, which is an Australian-British based mining company, is the third largest copper producer in the world. Its production of copper concentrate is from different sources including the Grasberg mine, which is the world’s second largest copper ore mine.
6. Antofagasta (Chile) – 1.26 million tonnes produced
Antofagasta is a large Chilean-based copper mine company that operates operations in Chile and Peru. It is the fourth largest copper producer in the world with its copper reserves located mainly in the Atacama Desert region. The company markets its copper concentrate, copper cathode, and other copper-related products to the global market.
7. Glencore (Germany) – 1.24 million tonnes produced
Glencore is a large Swiss-based mining company with activities around the world and copper mining operations in countries including Australia, Peru, Congo, and Zambia. The company has gained a significant share of the copper production market with its output of copper concentrate and copper cathode.
8. Jiangxi Copper (China) – 930,000 tonnes produced
Jiangxi Copper is one of the largest copper producers in China, operating mainly in the provinces of Jiangxi and Fujian. It is a subsidiary of China’s giant multi-national company, China Minmetals. The company provides copper concentrate, copper powder and other copper-related products for the Chinese and international markets.
9. Vedanta Resources (India) – 750,000 tonnes produced
Vedanta Resources is a London-listed copper producer, primarily operating copper mines in India and Zambia. It controls a significant portion of copper production in India with its copper reserves in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The company also provides copper concentrate to the international market.
10. KGHM (Poland) – 710,000 tonnes produced
Headquartered in Poland, KGHM is one of the largest copper producers in Europe. It owns and operates two major copper mining and concentrating operations in Poland and Slovakia. The company is the largest copper producer in Poland, and produces copper concentrate, copper rod and other copper-based products for the European market.
To conclude, the top ten copper producing companies have taken centerstage in the industry, controlling a considerable share of the global copper production. While these companies are involved in a variety of applications, copper mining and production remain an important aspect of their businesses that will undoubtedly contribute to a strong global economy well into the future.
The copper industry has been one of the leading industries in the world for centuries. With the use of the metal increasing in a variety of applications and technology advancement, copper has become an integral part of the global economy. As such, there is no surprise that over the years, the copper industry has seen a significant and consistent growth.
The top 10 copper producing companies across the globe are major stakeholders in the copper industry that have been producing and delivering copper concentrate and other copper-related products on a significant scale. This article looks at the updated list of copper producing companies as of 2023.
1. Codelco (Chile) – Nearly 6 million tonnes produced
Codelco is the world’s largest copper miner and it operates in twelve mines in Chile, making it the leader in copper production globally. It contributes around 9% of the world’s copper consumption. While Codelco continues to be profitable, it faces dwindling ore grades and a complex mining environment.
2. Southern Copper Corporation (Mexico) – 1.8 million tonnes produced
Southern Copper Corporation is a publicly-traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As of 2023, it is the second largest copper producer globally with mines in Peru and Mexico. Southern Copper exports a significant amount of its copper concentrate to other countries, and utilizes copper for a number of applications such as manufacturing.
3. BHP Group (Australia) – 1.42 million tonnes produced
BHP Group is involved in a variety of industries, including copper mining. As one of the biggest copper producers, it produces around 4% of the global copper market requirements. BHP has copper operations in Chile, the US and Australia, as well as a joint venture in Peru.
4. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (USA) – 1.36 million tonnes produced
Freeport-McMoRan is one of the leading copper producing companies in the world. Operating in North America, it controls copper reserves and mining operations in countries such as the United States, Mexico and Peru. Freeport enables customers to obtain copper concentrate and copper cathodes from its copper mines.
5. Rio Tinto (Australia) – 1.35 million tonnes produced
Rio Tinto, which is an Australian-British based mining company, is the third largest copper producer in the world. Its production of copper concentrate is from different sources including the Grasberg mine, which is the world’s second largest copper ore mine.
6. Antofagasta (Chile) – 1.26 million tonnes produced
Antofagasta is a large Chilean-based copper mine company that operates operations in Chile and Peru. It is the fourth largest copper producer in the world with its copper reserves located mainly in the Atacama Desert region. The company markets its copper concentrate, copper cathode, and other copper-related products to the global market.
7. Glencore (Germany) – 1.24 million tonnes produced
Glencore is a large Swiss-based mining company with activities around the world and copper mining operations in countries including Australia, Peru, Congo, and Zambia. The company has gained a significant share of the copper production market with its output of copper concentrate and copper cathode.
8. Jiangxi Copper (China) – 930,000 tonnes produced
Jiangxi Copper is one of the largest copper producers in China, operating mainly in the provinces of Jiangxi and Fujian. It is a subsidiary of China’s giant multi-national company, China Minmetals. The company provides copper concentrate, copper powder and other copper-related products for the Chinese and international markets.
9. Vedanta Resources (India) – 750,000 tonnes produced
Vedanta Resources is a London-listed copper producer, primarily operating copper mines in India and Zambia. It controls a significant portion of copper production in India with its copper reserves in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The company also provides copper concentrate to the international market.
10. KGHM (Poland) – 710,000 tonnes produced
Headquartered in Poland, KGHM is one of the largest copper producers in Europe. It owns and operates two major copper mining and concentrating operations in Poland and Slovakia. The company is the largest copper producer in Poland, and produces copper concentrate, copper rod and other copper-based products for the European market.
To conclude, the top ten copper producing companies have taken centerstage in the industry, controlling a considerable share of the global copper production. While these companies are involved in a variety of applications, copper mining and production remain an important aspect of their businesses that will undoubtedly contribute to a strong global economy well into the future.
