Largest copper mining and producers companies

Copper mining and producers form the backbone of global electrification, extracting essential resources for renewable energy, EVs, and electrical infrastructure. They are primarily traded on exchanges like NYSE, TSX, and LSE, critical platforms for commodity investments. Despite supply constraints, the copper sector, led by low-cost producers, offers investors leveraged exposure to energy transition megatrends.

Base metals exchanges are not just platforms for copper miners; they facilitate capital allocation into the $200B+ global copper market. The main advantages of investing in copper stocks include:

• Electrification exposure: Companies supplying critical materials for 70% of electrical wiring and 100% of renewable energy systems.
• Resource scarcity premium: Operations in declining ore grade regions with limited new discoveries, creating structural deficits.
• Inflation hedging: Historical tendency for copper prices to rise 20% annually during high-inflation periods.

Industry leader Freeport-McMoRan produces 3.5 billion pounds annually – the world’s largest publicly traded copper output – from assets across North and South America. Together with Codelco (the world’s largest copper producer at 1.7 million tonnes), they anchor the sector, with Freeport operating the Grasberg mine containing 30 billion pounds of reserves. Investing in copper stocks provides exposure to companies supplying 25 million tonnes of annual global consumption.

Leading copper firms are operational innovators. Southern Copper maintains cash costs of $1.20/lb, while First Quantum’s Cobre Panama achieves 0.5% grade efficiency. Antofagasta reduces water usage by 45% through desalination plants. This efficiency explains why copper equities outperformed spot prices by 35% during 2021-2022. Beyond extraction, the sector includes 5 of the world’s 10 largest copper deposits: Escondida (Chile), Grasberg (Indonesia), Collahuasi (Chile), Morenci (USA), and El Teniente (Chile).

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The following table contains a list of the largest copper mining companies by market capitalization, primarily traded on NYSE/TSX/global exchanges (including producers with 500M+ pound annual output). The list includes only publicly traded companies, and the presented data (price, market cap) are regularly updated to reflect the current market situation.