Mining
Copper Smelter Production by Country 2025
Country | Copper Smelter Production 2021 (t)↓ | |
|---|---|---|
 | China | 10,050,000 |
 | Japan | 1,554,800 |
 | Chile | 1,206,600 |
 | Russia | 960,200 |
 | Zambia | 758,500 |
 | South Korea | 690,000 |
 | Poland | 581,409 |
 | Germany | 524,300 |
 | Australia | 367,000 |
 | Kazakhstan | 364,413 |
 | India | 363,000 |
 | Iran | 361,200 |
 | United States | 360,000 |
 | Bulgaria | 341,700 |
 | Peru | 311,000 |
 | Canada | 296,000 |
 | Mexico | 294,200 |
 | Indonesia | 280,400 |
 | Spain | 278,500 |
 | Sweden | 223,100 |
 | Philippines | 219,800 |
 | Belgium | 151,900 |
 | Uzbekistan | 150,000 |
 | Finland | 142,000 |
 | Turkey | 84,000 |
 | Austria | 75,370 |
 | Slovakia | 59,700 |
 | Serbia | 58,700 |
 | Brazil | 57,000 |
 | Namibia | 42,010 |
 | South Africa | 28,000 |
 | Vietnam | 22,000 |
 | North Korea | 15,000 |
 | Pakistan | 12,400 |
| Total | 21,284,202 |
- Values are displayed in tonnes, also known as metric tons. One tonne = 1,000 kg, or approximately 2,204.6 lbs.
- Data are also available for overall copper production and copper reserves per country.
Copper is a metallic element on the periodic table that is used for its electrical and thermal capabilities. It is a metal that is ductile, malleable, and soft. Copper is used in several ways, including in electrical wiring, electronics, construction work, medical devices, and much more. Because of this, many countries around the world mine copper in great numbers.
Currently, the company that mines the highest number of copper is Codelco, which is a private copper mining company that is worth around $21 billion. It produced around 1.73 million metric tonnes of copper in 2021 alone. However, while Codelco is the company with the highest production rate of copper, many countries produce high levels of copper.
China is the largest producer of copper, with 9,656,800 tons produced in 2020. China’s copper-smelting industry has become globally dominant, consuming much of the world’s available ore concentrate and forcing smelters elsewhere to reduce output. One of the companies in China that produces a large amount of copper is Jiangxi Copper, which produces copper from the Dexing copper mine, which is located in Jiangxi Province.
Japan comes in second with 1,591,500 tons of copper produced in 2020. Japan’s copper industry is highly import-dependent and focuses heavily on refining and recycling rather than domestic mining, with its smelters handling large volumes of imported concentrates for domestic manufacturing and export.
Another top producer is Chile, which put out 1,206,300 tons of copper in 2020. Codelco calls Chile home, and so does the largest copper reserve facility, which can hold around 200 million tons. One reason Chile is a prominent producer of copper is that some of the largest mines are found there. Some examples of these are El Teniente, Collahuasi, and Escondida.
Russia comes in at number four with 1,050,200 tons of copper produced in 2020. Russia’s copper industry is marked by vast reserves—particularly in Siberia and the Urals. It increasingly relies on a handful of large vertically-integrated producers such as Norilsk Nickel and Russian Copper Company (RMK), which together contribute the bulk of the nation’s output.
Rounding out the top five, Zambia is another formidable copper producer at 750,600 tons in 2020. Zambia’s copper industry is the heartbeat of its economy — a source of national pride and the primary driver of exports. Unfortunately, it continues to wrestle with the challenge of transforming raw mineral wealth into broader prosperity by expanding local processing and securing more stable investment.
