Copper production around the world
Copper is versatile metal
Copper is an essential element with a variety of important applications in our daily lives. Global consumption of the red metal reached 25 million metric tonnes in 2022, up about 3% from the year prior.¹
Copper is a prized for its versatility. It’s valued for its excellent electrical conductivity, making it a crucial component in the construction of electrical wiring and circuits. It is also widely used in the telecommunications industry for transmitting voice and data signals, plumbing systems, roofing, various construction materials, electric cars, etc. Furthermore, copper possesses antimicrobial properties, acting as a natural disinfectant, which is particularly significant for healthcare settings where it can help prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. This versatile metal plays a vital role in numerous industries, making it highly significant for global development and technological advancements.
The top copper producing countries
Approximately 21 million tonnes of copper was produced globally in 2021. Data obtained from Natural Resources Canada shows that Chile was the world leader in mined copper production that year with 5.6 million tonnes of copper, or 27%, of the global total of mined production.
World’s largest copper mines
The top 10 copper mines in 2022 produced approximately 4.7 million tonnes of copper. Some of the key players include Codelco, Anglo American Plc., Freeport McMoran, Glencore, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, First Quantum Minerals, and BHP.
The Escondida mine in Chile claims the top spot on the list and is the only member of the 1 million tonnes club. Escondida’s output was almost double the volume produced by second place Callahuasi. Chile is certainly the king of red metal. It is home to the top three copper mines in the world and four out the top ten are found in that country. The following are the top 10 copper mines by production across the world in 2022, according to data obtained from GlobalData via Mining Technology.
Making copper usable
Processing copper involves several steps to extract pure copper from its ore. One of the steps is smelting which involves heating the copper concentrates in a furnace to remove impurities and convert them into a molten copper. At the end of this process, the copper is 99% pure. This process is handled by smelters. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there were 124 copper smelters globally. Let’s take a look at where they’re located.
