By Bruno Venditti
Copper is considered an essential metal for the clean energy transition because it is a great conductor of electricity.
As a result, governments around the world have been encouraging the construction of new mines, and mining companies have been seeking new projects and acquiring existing mines to meet the growing demand.
In this graphic, we illustrate global copper production in 2023, based on data from the U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, as of January 2024.
Most Copper Comes from South America
Chile and Peru account for one-third of the world’s copper output.
| Country | Region | 2023E Production (Million tonnes) |
|---|---|---|
 Chile |
South America | 5.0 |
 Peru |
South America | 2.6 |
 Congo (Kinshasa) |
Africa | 2.5 |
 China |
Asia | 1.7 |
 United States |
North America | 1.1 |
 Russia |
Europe/Asia | 0.9 |
 Australia |
Oceania | 0.8 |
 Indonesia |
Asia | 0.8 |
 Zambia |
Africa | 0.8 |
 Mexico |
North America | 0.7 |
 Kazakhstan |
Asia | 0.6 |
 Canada |
North America | 0.5 |
 Poland |
Europe | 0.4 |
 Rest of World |
— | 3.1 |
| World total (rounded) | — | 21.5 |
Chile is also home to the two largest mines in the world, Escondida and Collahuasi.
Meanwhile, African countries have rapidly increased their production. The Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, transitioned from being a secondary copper producer in the late 1990s to becoming the third-largest producer by 2023.
Part of the growth in copper mining in Africa is attributed to high investment from China. Chinese mining companies represent 8% of Africa’s total output in the mining sector.
Within its territory, China has also seen a 277% growth in copper production over the last three decades.
In the U.S., Arizona is the leading copper-producing state, accounting for approximately 70% of domestic output. Copper is also mined in Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.
Source: Visual Capitalist
