The demand for copper is high all over the world and its usage in various industries from electrical power to automotive manufacturing. Copper is a versatile metal used in the production of consumer goods, construction materials, and various components. With the rise in global economic development, the need for copper has been continuously increasing and this has driven major copper producing companies to invest billions in the copper supply chain.
In this article, we will look at the top 10 copper producing companies in the world, based on the latest data from 2023.
1. Codelco: This Chilean-based company is the world’s leading copper producer and provides copper to many countries. With production amounting to 1.7 million tonnes of copper, Codelco is regarded as the world’s leading copper producer, both in terms of output and capacity. It holds 19% of the world’s copper reserves and is an important supplier of the metal to many countries, including China, Japan, and the U.S.
2. Freeport-McMoRan: This Arizona-based company is the world’s second-largest copper producer, with its copper production in 2023 reaching 1.2 million tonnes. The company operates large copper mines in both the United States and Chile, and has access to vast copper reserves around the world.
3. BHP Billiton: This Australia-based company is the world’s third-largest copper producer, producing 1.1 million tonnes of copper in 2023. The company also holds copper reserves in Peru, Chile, and Australia, and works on a vertically integrated business model to extract and process the required ore.
4. Anglo American: This British-based mining giant is the fourth-largest copper producer, with a production output of 972 thousand tonnes in 2023. The company has operations located in Chile, Peru, and Brazil and holds large copper reserves in South America.
5. Antofagasta: This Chilean-based company is the fifth-largest copper producer with an annual output of 925 thousand tonnes of copper in 2023. The company has operations in Chile as well as in Peru and holds large copper reserves in South America.
6. Glencore: This British-Swiss-based company is the sixth-largest copper producer with an output of 757 thousand tonnes of copper in 2023. The company owns several copper mines in Australia, Zambia, and Congo and holds long term copper reserves in South America.
7. Jiangxi Copper: This Chinese-based company is the seventh-largest copper producer in the world with an output of 627 thousand tonnes of copper in 2023. The company has plenty of copper reserves in various regions of China and is an important supplier of copper to many countries.
8. KGHM Polska Miedź: This Polish-based company is the eighth-largest copper producer with an annual output of 588 thousand tonnes of copper in 2023. The company operates many copper mines in Poland and Chile and also mining subsidiaries in Germany and the United States.
9. Teck Resources: This Canadian-based company is the ninth-largest copper producer with an annual output of 555 thousand tonnes of copper in 2023. The company has copper mining operations in both Canada and Chile and is also one of the largest suppliers of copper concentrate.
10. JX Nippon Mining & Metals: This Japanese-based company is the tenth-largest copper producer with an output of 443 thousand tonnes of copper in 2023. The company operates copper mines in Japan, Peru, and Australia and is an important copper supplier in the Asian market.
These companies have the potential to shape the future of the copper market and meet global copper demand. Over the next few years, we can expect their production output to continue to rise, as global copper firms continue to invest in the copper industry. With copper being increasingly used in various sectors, the demand for copper is likely to rise significantly, guaranteeing the growth of these copper producing companies.