13 World’s Largest Country Producers of Copper
13
World’s Largest Country Producers of Copper in 2023-- Based on the U.S. Geological Survey in
2024, there are 13 World’s biggest Copper Producers. Commonly, in the world,
copper has diverse usefulness to the global industries. Functionally in human’s
life, It indirectly helps improve people's quality of life. Copper is essential
for making components of electric wires, construction materials, vehicle parts,
water purification systems, and more.
From time to time, Copper production has
been stable and tends to increase. According to statistical data from the U.S.
Geological Survey in 2024, global copper production reached 22 million tons in
2023. In comparison, production was 21.9 million tons in 2022. Of course, This
data indicates that human dependence on copper remains high, and copper
continues to be an important material and commodity in human life.
Based on the Report of U.S. Geological Survey, 2024, there are ten worlds’ biggest copper
producers in 2023. These countries have a natural resource advantage, allowing
them to mine copper to meet domestic needs and export it to other countries.
Here is the Top Rank of 13 World’s
Biggest Country Producers of Copper in 2023.
The Rank of 13 World’s Biggest Country Producers of Copper in 2023
Rank |
Countries |
Copper Production in 2023 |
Copper Production in 2022 |
|
Total Reserves of Copper |
(Thousand Tons) |
(Thousand Tons) |
|
(Thousand Tons) |
||
1 |
Chile |
5,000 |
5,330 |
|
190,000 |
2 |
Peru |
2,600 |
2,450 |
|
120,000 |
3 |
Congo, D.R. |
2,500 |
2,350 |
|
80,000 |
4 |
China |
1,700 |
1,940 |
|
41,000 |
5 |
United States of America |
1,100 |
1,230 |
|
50,000 |
6 |
Russia |
910 |
936 |
|
80,000 |
7 |
Indonesia |
840 |
941 |
|
24,000 |
8 |
Australia |
810 |
819 |
|
100,000 |
9 |
Zambia |
760 |
797 |
|
21,000 |
10 |
Mexico |
750 |
754 |
|
53,000 |
11 |
Kazakhstan |
600 |
593 |
|
20,000 |
12 |
Canada |
480 |
520 |
|
7,600 |
13 |
Poland |
400 |
393 |
|
34,000 |
Source: U.S. Geological
Survey, 2024 |
Brief Description of 13 World’s Biggest Country Producers of Copper in 2023
1. Chile
Chile becomes the world’s largest country
producer of copper in 2023. Based on the data of U.S. Geological Survey in
2024, the production of Chile’s copper reached 5 million tons. In this country,
the main copper mining areas are in the Norte Grande region in the Atacama
Desert. In this country, Copper can be a driver of the economic sector because
the mining of copper has contributed an average of 10% for Chile’s gross
domestic product (GDP) for the last two decades. Besides, copper from Chile is
exported to other countries and can influence the availability of jobs.
2. Peru
In 2023, Peru became the world's
second-largest copper producer. Statistically, the copper production from Peru
reached 2.6 million tons. Geographically, some of the primary areas of copper
production are located in Cerro Verde Mine, Antamina Mine, Las Bambas Project,
Toquepala Mine, and Toromocho Project. In this country, the production of
copper from Peru is exported to some countries, namely South Korea, China, and
Japan.
3. Congo, D.R.
Congo is the fourth biggest producer of
copper in 2023. Based on the U.S. Geological Survey in 2024, the total
production of copper from Congo is up to 2.5 million tons. Based on the area of
copper in Congo, the mining area located in Copper Belt of the southern Katanga
Province and Kamoa-Kakula mine project is one of the richest copper deposits in
Congo. Besides, the corporation also has a vital role to help the production of
copper in Congo. Gécamines, Anvil Mining, and Metorex are some companies that
have exploration sites in this country.
4. China
China became the third biggest producer of
copper in 2023. Based on the U.S. Geological Survey in 2024, the total
production of copper from China reached 1.7 million tons. Geographically, some
copper mining areas can be traced into some sites. These are Dexing Mine,
Yulong Mine, Pulang Copper Mine, Zijinshan Gold & Copper Mine, and Jiama
Mine. Although China has huge production of copper, this country still imports
copper from Chile, Peru, Australia, and Mexico.
5. United States of America
The United States of America is the 5th
world’s biggest producer of copper in the world. Accumulatively, the total
production of copper from The United States of America reaches 1.1 million
tons. In the main aspects of production, there are some states that have become
the biggest production of copper. These states are Arizona, New Mexico, Utah,
Nevada, and Montana. As one the biggest countries in industries, copper in the
U.S.A. is used in construction and electric equipment. Despite the huge
production of copper in the domestic area, this country still imports the
copper from the other countries, namely Chile, Canada, Peru, and Mexico.
6. Russia
Russia becomes the seventh biggest producer
of copper. In 2023, the total production of copper reached 910 thousand tons.
Some areas of copper mining are spread into some areas, namely Orenburg Oblast,
Murmansk Oblast, Republic of Bashkortostan, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Zabaykalsky
Krai. Specifically, some copper mining sites in Russia are Gaisky Mine Complex,
Kola MMC Mine, Uchalinsk Mine, Mikheevsky Gok Zao Mine, and Chita Mine.
7. Indonesia
Besides China, Indonesia also has huge
production of copper in 2023 from the Asian Region. Statistically, the
production of copper from China reached 840 thousand tons. Based on the
geographical areas, the copper mining sites in Indonesia can be found in the
Grasberg mine (in Papua), Batu Hijau mine (Wet Nusa Tenggara), and the Wetar
Copper Project (maluku). Grasberg Mine is explored by Freeport McMoran (USA-based mining company), Batu Hijau mine
Located in West Nusa Tenggara, explored by Amman
Mineral Internasional, and Wetar Copper Project Located in Maluku, explored
by Merdeka Copper Gold.
8. Australia
Australia is the 8th world
biggest country producer of copper. In 2023, the total production of copper
from Australia reached 810 thousand tons. In this country, there are some sites
that have enormous amounts of copper deposits. The Olympic Dam
copper-uranium-gold deposit in South Australia and the Mount Isa
copper-lead-zinc deposit in Queensland are some of the areas with the biggest
deposits of copper in Australia.
9. Zambia
Zambia is the 9th world’s
biggest country producer of copper in 2023. Statistically, the production of
copper from Zambia reached 760 thousand tons. Geographically Zambia's copper
mines are in the Copperbelt. This area is close to the towns of Ndola, Kitwe,
Chingola, Mufulira, Luanshya, Kalulushi and Chililabombwe.
10. Mexico
Mexico is the 10th world’s
biggest country producer of copper. Statistically, the total production of
copper from Mexico reached 750 thousand tons. In this country, Sonora and
Zacatecas are the main regions of copper mining in Mexico. Specifically, there
are some copper sites in this country. These sites are Buenavista del Cobre
Mine, La Caridad Mine, Tayahua Mine, Piedras Verdes Mine, Milpillas Copper Mine
are some of copper mining sites in Mexico.
11. Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is the 11th world’s
biggest country producer of copper in 2023. Based on the report from U.S.
Geological Survey 2024, the production of copper from Kazakhstan reached 600
thousand tons. One of the main sites of the copper mining area is Bozshakol. A
large scale and open pit copper mine located in the Pavlodar region of
Kazakhstan.
12. Canada
Canada
is the 12th world’s largest country producer of copper in 2023.
Statistically, according to the U.S. Geological Survey in 2024, the production
of copper from Canada reached 480 thousand tons.
Geographically, some copper mining areas in Canada can be found in several
region, namely British Columbia Region (Gibraltar mine, Highland Valley Copper
mine, Mount Polley mine, New Afton mine), Newfoundland and Labrador (Duck Pond
Mine), and Ontario (Coldstream copper mine and Coleman Mine).
13. Poland
Poland
is the 13th world’s largest country producer of copper in 2023.
Accurately, the production of copper from poland reached 400 thousand tons. Geographically, in Poland, some copper areas are
explored in three underground mines, namely Lubin, Polkowice-Sieroszowice and
Rudna.
The Summary of 13 world’s Biggest Country Producers of Copper in 2023
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