Top Copper-Producing Countries

Copper is the backbone of the global energy transition — essential for electric vehicles, transmission grids, data centers, and modern electronics. In 2024, the world’s copper mine production reached roughly 22.9 million metric tons, with a handful of nations controlling the lion’s share of output. These countries form the critical nodes in the copper supply chain, influencing price stability, downstream processing, and global trade flows. Here’s a detailed look at the top producers of 2024.

Chile remains the undisputed giant of global copper mining, producing around 5.3 million metric tons in 2024 — nearly 23% of the world’s total output. The country’s copper-rich deposits in the Atacama Desert, particularly the Escondida and Collahuasi mines, continue to underpin its export economy.

However, production growth has plateaued in recent years due to declining ore grades, water scarcity, and political debates over mining taxes and environmental regulation. Still, Chile’s copper industry remains unmatched in scale, infrastructure, and experience, cementing its role as the world’s most reliable copper powerhouse.

The DRC has rapidly emerged as the second-largest copper producer, outputting an estimated 3.3 million metric tons in 2024 — a meteoric rise powered by Chinese-backed mining projects in the Copperbelt region. Massive operations like Kamoa-Kakula and Tenke Fungurume have transformed the country’s industrial landscape, making copper its dominant export.

But while the DRC’s geological potential is extraordinary, the sector faces persistent challenges: poor infrastructure, political volatility, and concerns about governance and environmental standards. Despite these hurdles, the DRC’s trajectory signals that Africa is fast becoming a central pillar of global copper supply.

With roughly 2.6 million metric tons produced in 2024, Peru ranks third globally, forming part of Latin America’s “Copper Triangle” alongside Chile. The country’s vast deposits in the Andes — including Las Bambas, Cerro Verde, and Antamina — sustain its mining-driven economy.

Yet, recurring community protests and transport blockades have disrupted output, creating volatility in global supply. Still, Peru’s copper sector remains vital for both Western and Asian buyers, particularly China, which absorbs the majority of its exports. Despite social challenges, Peru’s copper wealth ensures its enduring importance in global markets.

China produced about 1.8 million metric tons of mined copper in 2024 — not enough to satisfy its enormous domestic demand, but still significant. The real story lies in China’s dominance in copper refining, where it converts imported concentrates into finished metal and semi-finished products.

While domestic mining output is modest compared to Latin America or Africa, China’s control over smelting capacity gives it tremendous leverage in global copper pricing and trade. In essence, China may not mine the most copper, but it shapes the industry’s downstream economics like no other nation.

Indonesia continued its impressive climb in 2024, producing about 1.1 million metric tons of copper — largely from the world-famous Grasberg mine in Papua, operated by Freeport-McMoRan and the Indonesian government. Once focused mainly on exports of raw concentrate, Indonesia is now investing heavily in local smelting and processing, aligning with its broader resource-nationalism policy. This shift positions Indonesia as a growing force in the copper value chain, bridging mining and manufacturing, and marking Southeast Asia’s growing influence in the global metals landscape.

The United States produced roughly 1.1 million metric tons of copper in 2024, ranking sixth globally. Arizona remains the country’s mining heartland, hosting giants like Morenci and Resolution Copper.

While the U.S. possesses solid reserves and advanced technology, its domestic production covers only a portion of national demand — making imports, especially of refined copper and concentrates, strategically vital. With growing pressure from the renewable energy sector and defense applications, Washington is now eyeing copper as a critical material, pushing for investment in both mining and recycling infrastructure.

Russia’s copper output stood at about 930,000 metric tons in 2024, supported by large-scale operations such as Norilsk Nickel and the new Udokan deposit in Siberia. Sanctions and trade realignments have shifted Russia’s copper flows toward Asia, particularly China, as Western markets reduce imports. While production levels remain steady, geopolitical isolation has complicated investment and equipment supply. Nonetheless, Russia’s resource base is substantial, and its long-term copper output is expected to remain a steady, if less globally integrated, contributor to supply.

Australia produced around 800,000 metric tons of copper in 2024, ranking among the top ten producers. Rich deposits across South Australia and Queensland — including the Olympic Dam and Mount Isa mines — anchor its copper industry.

Although its share of global production is modest, Australia’s importance lies in its low political risk, high environmental standards, and stable investment climate, which make it a favored destination for Western mining capital. With global efforts to diversify supply chains away from politically unstable regions, Australia’s role in copper production is poised to grow.

Kazakhstan’s copper production reached about 740,000 metric tons in 2024, reflecting the country’s steady expansion in Central Asian mining. Companies like Kaz Minerals and KAZZINC have modernized operations and boosted output through both brownfield expansions and new projects.

The government’s pro-investment stance and improved infrastructure have helped position Kazakhstan as a regional mining hub, linking Central Asia with global metals markets. While still a smaller player, Kazakhstan’s rising production adds geographic diversity to the world’s copper map.

Mexico rounded out the top ten with nearly 740,000 metric tons of copper output in 2024, led by Grupo México’s sprawling mining empire. The country’s Sonora region hosts some of the largest open-pit copper operations in North America. Mexico’s proximity to the U.S. and participation in the USMCA trade framework give it a strategic advantage for North American supply chains seeking friendlier sourcing options. As regional reshoring accelerates, Mexico’s copper sector is increasingly seen as a key link in North America’s industrial reconfiguration.

Copper production in 2024 underscores a familiar yet evolving reality — a highly concentrated supply base centered on Chile, the DRC, and Peru, accounting for nearly half of global output. But new entrants like Indonesia and Kazakhstan are rewriting the map, while policy-driven dynamics in the U.S., China, and Mexico are reshaping trade patterns. The world’s electrification drive means copper will remain a strategic metal for decades to come, and how these nations manage their mines, communities, and partnerships will define not just supply but the geopolitics of the green economy.

Chile remains the global leader in copper production, mining around 5.3 million metric tons in 2024, or roughly 23% of total global output. Its vast reserves in the Atacama Desert and advanced mining infrastructure make it the cornerstone of the world’s copper supply.

Copper deposits are geologically specific — concentrated in regions like the Andes, the African Copperbelt, and parts of Southeast Asia. Mining copper economically requires favorable geology, stable political conditions, and access to infrastructure, which narrows the list of viable producer nations. This concentration creates supply chain risks and exposure to political and environmental disruptions.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Indonesia are the fastest-growing producers. The DRC’s surge is driven by large-scale, Chinese-backed projects, while Indonesia’s rise stems from its Grasberg mine and growing domestic smelting capacity. Both nations are shifting the geography of global copper supply toward the Global South.

Although China produces only about 1.8 million metric tons of copper ore annually, it dominates the refining and smelting stages. China imports massive amounts of copper concentrate from Chile, Peru, and the DRC, and refines it into finished copper products — making it the world’s largest refined copper producer and consumer.

Copper is indispensable to clean energy technologies — from EV batteries and charging stations to solar panels, wind turbines, and power grids. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global copper demand could double by 2035 under current electrification trends. Its high conductivity, durability, and recyclability make it irreplaceable in the green economy.