Copper, a versatile and essential metal that has been employed by human civilization for thousands of years, remains imperative in contemporary society. Its high thermal and electrical conductivity renders it vital for industries such as electronics, telecommunication, and construction. Considered the third most consumed industrial metal globally, copper’s application stretches from making electrical wires to forming rain-proof roofs. Despite its abundant presence in the Earth's crust, copper doesn't occur naturally in usable amounts. Instead, it must be extracted from a myriad of ores, a process that is economically significant and technically complex. Accurate data regarding annual copper production by countries globally plays a pivotal role in shaping international economic policies, understanding the exhaustion and availability of this invaluable resource and forecasting future trends in the copper industry. Key findings:
Topping the list, unsurprisingly, is Chile, producing a substantial 5.8 million metric tons of copper annually. As the world's leading copper producer, Chile accounts for more than 28% of the world's total copper output, thanks in large part to the vast copper ore reserves and advanced extraction techniques employed. Next up is Peru, holding the second position with 2.4 million metric tons. The country’s rich mineral resources and developed mining industry aid in maintaining its significant production output. China, primarily known as the world's largest consumer of metals, ranks third in copper production, generating about 1.6 million metric tons per year. As the heart of the global manufacturing industry, China relies heavily on copper for sectors such as electronics and construction, encouraging domestic production to fulfill its enormous demand. The Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States tie for the fourth spot, each producing 1.2 million metric tons annually. The DRC capitalizes on its rich mineral wealth, while the US leverages its advanced mining industry for production. Following closely, Australia puts out 913.3K metric tons of copper annually, while Zambia distills about 861.9K metric tons each year. Australia's significant reserves and Zambia's rich mineral deposits support their high production rates. Rounding out the top eight are Russia and Mexico, contributing 785.3K and 696.6K metric tons of copper to the global market, respectively. Closing the list, but still contributing significantly, are Indonesia (producing 651.1K metric tons), demonstrating the diversity of global copper production, and highlighting the fact that copper extraction and processing is a truly global industry.
Top 10 copper-producing countries:
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
3.8 K
#52
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
17.4 K
#38
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
68.9 K
#25
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
913.3 K
#6
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
1.7 K
#53
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
5.2 K
#51
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
1.5 K
#54
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
381.0 K
#14
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
112.9 K
#20
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
542.9 K
#12
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
5.8M
#1
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
1.6M
#3
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
9.9 K
#44
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
908
#55
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
1.2M
#4
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
8.6 K
#46
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
42.2 K
#31
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
17.3 K
#39
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
46.8 K
#29
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
15.3 K
#40
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
35.5 K
#33
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
651.1 K
#10
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
316.4 K
#15
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
632.6 K
#11
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
7.9 K
#49
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
154.9 K
#19
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
28.1 K
#35
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
696.6 K
#9
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
309.8 K
#16
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
34.5 K
#34
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
179.3 K
#18
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
5.9 K
#50
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
15.0 K
#41
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
12.5 K
#42
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
96.3 K
#22
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
2.4M
#2
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
69.9 K
#24
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
401.3 K
#13
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
49.1 K
#27
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
18.0 K
#37
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
8.2 K
#48
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
785.3 K
#8
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
59.7 K
#26
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
44.1 K
#30
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
21
#56
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
46.9 K
#28
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
186.5 K
#17
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
106.1 K
#21
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
8.5 K
#47
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
10.0 K
#43
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
87.0 K
#23
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
1.2M
#5
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
38.0 K
#32
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
22.4 K
#36
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
861.9 K
#7
Metric
Value
Rank
Copper Production (Metric Tons)
9.1 K
#45
Region ↕ | Copper Production (Metric Tons) ↕ |
---|---|
Albania | 3.8 K |
Argentina | 17.4 K |
Armenia | 68.9 K |
Australia | 913.3 K |
Azerbaijan | 1.7 K |
Bolivia | 5.2 K |
Botswana | 1.5 K |
Brazil | 381.0 K |
Bulgaria | 112.9 K |
Canada | 542.9 K |
Chile | 5.8M |
China | 1.6M |
Colombia | 9.9 K |
Cyprus | 908 |
DR Congo | 1.2M |
Dominican Republic | 8.6 K |
Ecuador | 42.2 K |
Eritrea | 17.3 K |
Finland | 46.8 K |
Georgia | 15.3 K |
India | 35.5 K |
Indonesia | 651.1 K |
Iran | 316.4 K |
Kazakhstan | 632.6 K |
Kyrgyzstan | 7.9 K |
Laos | 154.9 K |
Mauritania | 28.1 K |
Mexico | 696.6 K |
Mongolia | 309.8 K |
Morocco | 34.5 K |
Myanmar | 179.3 K |
Namibia | 5.9 K |
North Korea | 15.0 K |
Pakistan | 12.5 K |
Papua New Guinea | 96.3 K |
Peru | 2.4M |
Philippines | 69.9 K |
Poland | 401.3 K |
Portugal | 49.1 K |
Republic of the Congo | 18.0 K |
Romania | 8.2 K |
Russia | 785.3 K |
Saudi Arabia | 59.7 K |
Serbia | 44.1 K |
Slovakia | 21 |
South Africa | 46.9 K |
Spain | 186.5 K |
Sweden | 106.1 K |
Tajikistan | 8.5 K |
Tanzania | 10.0 K |
Turkey | 87.0 K |
United States | 1.2M |
Uzbekistan | 38.0 K |
Vietnam | 22.4 K |
Zambia | 861.9 K |
Zimbabwe | 9.1 K |