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Copper

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The sources listed are the ones this profile uses, with the years their figures describe. The access date is today.

China refined 48% (USGS) of the world's copper in 2025; Chile mined 23% (USGS).

48%

of the world's copper was refined in China in 2025 (estimated), according to USGS · about half

ANNUAL 2025

  • Leading mining country

    23%

    Chile, 2025 (estimated), USGS

  • Leading refining country

    48%

    China, 2025 (estimated), USGS

  • Sites on record

    633

    Mines and plants in the open sources. Coverage is partial. Also on record: 120 deposits and projects, which are not counted.

  • Recycling's share of EU demand

    55%

    2022, EU only

OverviewSupply chainMoneySustainabilityRisks & policySourcesHistory & talk

Overview

Copper ore is concentrated, smelted and refined into cathode. It is the main conductor in power grids, motors and electronics.

Map

Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain)
  • Share of world mine output
  • Mine or brine operation
  • Processing site
  • Deposit or project (not a mine or a plant yet)

Sites are those in the open sources. A site missing here is missing from the sources, not from the world.

2025

Key facts

Group
Base metals
Stages in the atlas
Reserves · Mine · Process · Refine · Recycle
World mine production, 2025
23 000 thousand metric tons (estimated)
World refinery production, 2025
29 000 thousand metric tons (estimated)
Open price series
Yes: monthly, in $/mt

Open on the globe →Flow diagram →

Leading countries

Mine · USGS, 2025 (estimated)

  1. Chileabout 1 in 423%
  2. Congo (Kinshasa)about 1 in 1014%
  3. Peruabout 1 in 1012%
  4. Chinaabout 1 in 107.8%
  5. Russiaabout 1 in 205.6%

Refine · USGS, 2025 (estimated)

  1. Chinaabout half48%
  2. Congo (Kinshasa)about 1 in 109.7%
  3. Chileabout 1 in 205.9%
  4. Japanabout 1 in 204.8%
  5. Russiaabout 1 in 203.3%

The five largest shares of each stage's latest table. One source per stage; the Supply chain tab has every source and every row.

Supply chain

Every stage with its table by country, the flow between stages, the largest recorded trade flows and the sites on record.

Reserves

Concentration

ANNUAL 2025

Chile holds about 1 in 5 (18 %) of the world's copper reserves recorded here.

Reserves · 2025

(Data in thousand metric tons, copper content, unless otherwise specified)

Top 3 countries
37.2 %
Chile, Australia, Peru

Who holds what

Mine

Concentration

ANNUAL 2025

Chile mines about 1 in 4 (23 %) of the world's copper recorded here.

Mine production · 2025 (estimated)

(Data in thousand metric tons, copper content, unless otherwise specified)

Top 3 countries
48.7 %
Chile, Congo (Kinshasa), Peru

Who holds what

Process

No data yet: Copper, process stage

We have no sourced record for this. We never fill gaps with estimates.

Help add it

Refine

Concentration

ANNUAL 2025

China refines about half (48 %) of the world's copper recorded here.

Refinery production · 2025 (estimated)

(Data in thousand metric tons, copper content, unless otherwise specified)

Top 3 countries
63.8 %
China, Congo (Kinshasa), Chile

Who holds what

Recycle

No data yet: Copper, recycle stage

We have no sourced record for this. We never fill gaps with estimates.

Help add it

Flow through the stages

Bars are each country's share of one stage, taken from one source. Bands are trade flows that customs data record between two countries. The two are measured differently, so a band's width says nothing about a bar's height. Where the data records nothing, the diagram says so.

Source for the country shares:One source at a time; figures from two sources are never mixed.

The diagram is wider than this screen. Swipe it sideways to see every stage.

MineMine production · 2025 (estimated)In trade flows only (no row in this table)ProcessNo open table by countryfor this stage in thissourceIn trade flows only (no row in this table)RefineRefinery production · 2025 (estimated)In trade flows only (no row in this table)After refiningNo record of whatimporters do with therefined productIn trade flows only (no row in this table)Chile → China: 20 934.6 million USD, 2024Peru → China: 15 443.4 million USD, 2024Congo (Kinshasa) → China: 13 683.7 million USD, 2024Chile → USA: 5 842.1 million USD, 2024Chile → Japan: 5 425 million USD, 2024Chile → China: 4 531.1 million USD, 2024Zambia → Switzerland: 3 765.7 million USD, 2024Mongolia → China: 3 325.5 million USD, 2024Mexico → China: 3 290.4 million USD, 2024Kazakhstan → China: 2 878 million USD, 2024Congo (Kinshasa) → China: 2 522.5 million USD, 2024Kazakhstan → China: 2 484.8 million USD, 2024Indonesia → China: 2 450.5 million USD, 2024Indonesia → Japan: 2 198.9 million USD, 2024Japan → China: 2 147 million USD, 2024Russia → China: 2 113.2 million USD, 2024Chile → Brazil: 2 098.2 million USD, 2024Japan → India: 1 903.6 million USD, 2024Zambia → China: 1 898.2 million USD, 2024Peru → Japan: 1 813.1 million USD, 2024China → Other Asia, nes: 1 752.5 million USD, 2024Zambia → India: 1 591.3 million USD, 2024Australia → Japan: 1 590.5 million USD, 2024United States → Mexico: 1 487.6 million USD, 2024Russia → China: 1 469.3 million USD, 2024Chile → Rep. of Korea: 1 379.1 million USD, 2024Canada → China: 1 374.5 million USD, 2024Chile → India: 1 373.2 million USD, 2024Australia → China: 1 364.7 million USD, 2024Serbia → China: 1 334.2 million USD, 2024United States → Mexico: 1 315.2 million USD, 2024Canada → USA: 1 273.5 million USD, 2024Japan → Other Asia, nes: 1 239.3 million USD, 20242 more countries → Germany: 1 194.5 million USD, 2024Kazakhstan → 2 more countries: 1 155.7 million USD, 20242 more countries → China: 1 123 million USD, 2024Indonesia → India: 1 107.7 million USD, 2024Chile → 2 more countries: 1 074.9 million USD, 2024United States → China: 1 067.3 million USD, 2024Indonesia → Rep. of Korea: 1 064.6 million USD, 2024Chile 23.0 %Congo (Kinshasa) 13.9 %Peru 11.7 %China 7.8 %Russia 5.6 %United States 4.3 %Zambia 4.1 %Australia 3.2 %Indonesia 3.1 %Kazakhstan 3.1 %Mexico 3.0 %Canada 2.2 %Poland 1.8 %India 0.1 %Other / not attributed 13.0 %MongoliaSerbiaChinaJapanZambiaIndiaRep. of KoreaMexico2 more countriesChina 48.3 %Congo (Kinshasa) 9.7 %Chile 5.9 %Japan 4.8 %Russia 3.3 %United States 2.9 %India 2.1 %Germany 2.1 %Korea, Republic of 2.1 %Poland 1.9 %Kazakhstan 1.7 %Mexico 1.7 %Australia 1.6 %Indonesia 1.4 %Peru 1.2 %Canada 1.1 %Zambia 0.9 %Other / not attributed 7.3 %SwitzerlandChinaUSAOther Asia, nesBrazilIndiaMexico2 more countriesRecycling back into supply: copper 55.0 % (2022), EU only
  • Bar: a country's share of the stage's output. Height is the share. Sources:Mine 2025Refine 2025
  • Band: recorded trade, by value, 2024. In US dollars, not tonnes. Width compares flows of the same product only. A band runs from the exporter to the importer's place in the next stage; the data does not say what the importer did with the product. The data holds only the largest flows of the material: 40 of 3 225 flows, covering 59.5 % of traded value.
  • Dashed box: a country that appears in a recorded trade flow but has no row in this stage's table. It has no share.
  • Not recorded: material processed in the country that mined it. Trade data only sees border crossings. A dotted line joins a country that appears in two neighbouring tables.
  • Return arrow: recycling's share of EU demand (end-of-life recycling input rate). EU only, so it cannot be compared with the world shares above. Width: 1 px at 0 % to 10 px at 100 %.
Table of what is drawn (50 country marks, 40 trade flows)
Country shares per stage, from USGS MCS 2026.
StageCountryShareAmountSource
Mine 2025Chile23.0 %5 300 kt
Mine 2025Congo (Kinshasa)13.9 %3 200 kt
Mine 2025Peru11.7 %2 700 kt
Mine 2025China7.8 %1 800 kt
Mine 2025Russia5.6 %1 300 kt
Mine 2025United States4.3 %1 000 kt
Mine 2025Zambia4.1 %940 kt
Mine 2025Australia3.2 %730 kt
Mine 2025Indonesia3.1 %710 kt
Mine 2025Kazakhstan3.1 %710 kt
Mine 2025Mexico3.0 %690 kt
Mine 2025Canada2.2 %500 kt
Mine 2025Poland1.8 %410 kt
Mine 2025India0.1 %23 kt
Mine 2025Other / not attributed13.0 %3 000 ktthe source's own "other" row
Refine 2025China48.3 %14 000 kt
Refine 2025Congo (Kinshasa)9.7 %2 800 kt
Refine 2025Chile5.9 %1 700 kt
Refine 2025Japan4.8 %1 400 kt
Refine 2025Russia3.3 %950 kt
Refine 2025United States2.9 %850 kt
Refine 2025India2.1 %620 kt
Refine 2025Germany2.1 %610 kt
Refine 2025Korea, Republic of2.1 %610 kt
Refine 2025Poland1.9 %560 kt
Refine 2025Kazakhstan1.7 %500 kt
Refine 2025Mexico1.7 %480 kt
Refine 2025Australia1.6 %460 kt
Refine 2025Indonesia1.4 %400 kt
Refine 2025Peru1.2 %340 kt
Refine 2025Canada1.1 %320 kt
Refine 2025Zambia0.9 %270 kt
Refine 2025Other / not attributed7.3 %2 100 ktthe source's own "other" row
Recorded trade flows drawn as bands, by value, 2024. ≈ marks a customs code that mixes grades or forms.
Product of stageFrom → toMillion USDSource
MineChile → China20 934.6
MinePeru → China15 443.4
RefineDem. Rep. of the Congo → China13 683.7
RefineChile → USA5 842.1
MineChile → Japan5 425
RefineChile → China4 531.1
ProcessZambia → Switzerland3 765.7
MineMongolia → China3 325.5
MineMexico → China3 290.4
MineKazakhstan → China2 878
MineDem. Rep. of the Congo → China2 522.5
RefineKazakhstan → China2 484.8
MineIndonesia → China2 450.5
MineIndonesia → Japan2 198.9
RefineJapan → China2 147
RefineRussian Federation → China2 113.2
RefineChile → Brazil2 098.2
RefineJapan → India1 903.6
ProcessZambia → China1 898.2
MinePeru → Japan1 813.1
RefineChina → Other Asia, nes1 752.5
ProcessZambia → India1 591.3
MineAustralia → Japan1 590.5
MineUSA → Mexico1 487.6
MineRussian Federation → China1 469.3
MineChile → Rep. of Korea1 379.1
MineCanada → China1 374.5
MineChile → India1 373.2
RefineAustralia → China1 364.7
MineSerbia → China1 334.2
RefineUSA → Mexico1 315.2
RefineCanada → USA1 273.5
RefineJapan → Other Asia, nes1 239.3
ProcessBulgaria → Fed. Rep. of Germany (...1990)1 194.5
RefineKazakhstan → Türkiye1 155.7
ProcessDem. Rep. of the Congo → China1 123
MineIndonesia → India1 107.7
RefineChile → Rep. of Korea1 074.9
MineUSA → China1 067.3
MineIndonesia → Rep. of Korea1 064.6

Countries drawn as dashed boxes (in trade flows only)

  • Mine: Mongolia; Serbia
  • Process: China; Japan; Zambia; India; Rep. of Korea; Mexico; 2 more countries (Bulgaria, Dem. Rep. of the Congo)
  • Refine: Switzerland
  • After refining: China; USA; Other Asia, nes; Brazil; India; Mexico; 2 more countries (Türkiye, Rep. of Korea)

Recycling loop

  • Copper: 55.0 % (2022, European Union)

Largest trade flows · 2024

Reconciled customs data (CEPII BACI), by value. Trade data lags: this is the latest complete year. 40 of 3 225 flows shown, covering 59.5 % of traded value.

Largest trade flows 2024
From → toProduct of stageMillion USDSource
Chile → ChinaMine20 934.6
Peru → ChinaMine15 443.4
Dem. Rep. of the Congo → ChinaRefine13 683.7
Chile → USARefine5 842.1
Chile → JapanMine5 425
Chile → ChinaRefine4 531.1
Zambia → SwitzerlandProcess3 765.7
Mongolia → ChinaMine3 325.5
Mexico → ChinaMine3 290.4
Kazakhstan → ChinaMine2 878

≈ marks a customs code that mixes grades or forms of the material, so stages cannot be told apart. Expert mode shows the codes.

Sites on record · 633 and 120 deposits and projects

753 of 753 shown

One entry per site. Where two sources describe the same site, the atlas lists the record of the source it ranks higher.

United States view: Copper

These figures describe the United States only. They are not global figures.

Net import reliance · 2025
57 %
Import sources · 2021-24
  • Chile68 %
  • Canada16 %
  • Peru7 %
  • Mexico6 %
  • Other3 %
Scrap (circularity) · 2025 estimate
Value 7 890 million USDDomestic 21.55 %Imported 10.01 %Exported 68.44 %
Main uses
  • Wiring and cables.

Money

The open price series where one exists, and one estimate with its formula. No licensed market data is shown.

Price

monthly, indicative

14 508$/mt, Oct 2026

+35.1% against a year earlier (Oct 2025: 10 740)

▲1▲2▲3▲4▲5▲6▲7
Nov 201610-year range 5 058–14 508Oct 2026

Series as the World Bank defines it: Copper (LME), grade A, minimum 99.9935% purity, cathodes and wire bar shapes, settlement price. The World Bank compiles it from: Bloomberg Finance L.P.; Engineering and Mining Journal; Platts Metals Week; Thomson Reuters Datastream; World Bank. Monthly averages in nominal US dollars, for orientation only. Not a quote.

Export controls on the time axis

  1. ▲12017 · Tanzania · Ban (Export ban)
  2. ▲22023 · Indonesia · Ban (Export ban)
  3. ▲32024 · Laos · Ban (Export ban)
  4. ▲42024 · Venezuela · Ban (Export ban)
  5. ▲52025 · Morocco · Licence (Export licensing requirement)

USGS gives the year of each control only, so a mark sits at the start of that year. A mark shows when a control took effect; it does not say the control moved the price.

Public support instruments on the time axis (those whose source names the material)

  1. ▲62024-05-23 · European Union · Joint purchasing
  2. ▲72025-03-20 · United States · Loan programme

A mark sits at the month of the instrument's date. It shows when the instrument was announced, signed or took effect; it does not say the instrument moved the price.

Estimated production value

estimated

$229bnestimated value of world copper mine production, 2025

How it is computed

Estimated value = world mine production of the year × the average of that year's monthly prices. Both inputs are reported figures; the product is an estimate made by the atlas.

World mine production, 2025 (estimated)
23 000 thousand metric tons
USGS MCS 2026, Mine production. The series is in thousand metric tons; the price is in US dollars per metric ton. One unit is 1 000 metric tons, so the total is 23 Mt.
Average price, 2025
9 947 $/mt
Mean of the 12 monthly averages of 2025.

23 Mt × 9 947 $/mt ≈ $229bn

Mined metal is not all sold at this price: concentrates sell at a discount and contracts differ. Read it as an order of magnitude.

Investment pipeline

announced figures

Planned and under-construction copper projects with a publicly announced capital cost, public financial backing, or both. Each line is one statement by the named publisher on the given date; the atlas adds nothing to it.

  • Kabanga Nickel ProjectPlannedMine

    Lifezone Metals Limited · northwestern Tanzania · Tanzania · Nickel, Copper, Cobalt

    “on track for a Final Investment Decision (FID) in 2026” · status as printed on 2025-12-11

    Announced capital cost

    USD 942 M2025-07-18

    Pre-production capital costs, including 9.7% contingency (Feasibility Study, initial development phase) · Lifezone Metals Limited

    The publisher's words: “Pre-production capital costs of $942 million, including 9.7% contingency.”
    Public backing

    • no amount statedLetter of interest · “Letter of Interest” · 2024-09-23

      U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

      The publisher's words: “has received a Letter of Interest from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) that expressed DFC’s interest in considering the Project for loans”

  • Arctic ProjectPlannedMine

    Ambler Metals LLC · northwestern Alaska · United States · Copper

    “targeting a Record of Decision in September 2028” · status as printed on 2026-10-02

    Announced capital cost

    USD 1.18 bn2023-02-14

    Initial capital expenditure (2023 Arctic feasibility study); sustaining capital and closure are separate figures · Trilogy Metals Inc.

    The publisher's words: “Initial capital expenditure is $1,176.8 million and sustaining capital is $114.4 million”
    Public backing

    • USD 35.6 MEquity · “Closing” · 2026-10-02

      U.S. Department of War

      The publisher's words: “Closing of the DOW $35.6 million strategic equity investment subsequent to quarter end on September 11, 2026.”

  • U.S. SmelterPlannedProcessing

    Korea Zinc · Clarksville, Tennessee · United States · Copper, Antimony, Gallium, Germanium

    “Full-scale construction will start in 2027” · status as printed on 2025-12-15

    Announced capital cost

    USD 6.6 bn2025-12-15

    capital expenditures; total planned investment of $7.4 billion including working capital and financing costs · Korea Zinc

    The publisher's words: “is expected to have $6.6 billion in capital expenditures, with a total planned investment of $7.4 billion including working capital and financing costs”
    Public backing

    • USD 1.4 bnOther support · “conditional investment” · 2025-12-15

      U.S. Department of War

      The publisher's words: “The Department of War’s conditional investment of $1.4 billion to build the first U.S.-based zinc smelter and critical minerals processing facility”

    • USD 2.15 bnOther support · “arranged by the U.S. Department of War together with investors” · 2025-12-15

      U.S. Department of War together with investors

      The publisher's words: “Approximately $2.15 billion, arranged by the U.S. Department of War together with investors, will be invested in the smelter construction.”

    • USD 210 MGrant · “will provide $210 million in award funding” · 2025-12-15

      U.S. Department of Commerce (CHIPS Act)

      The publisher's words: “The U.S. Department of Commerce will provide $210 million in award funding under the CHIPS Act for U.S. equipment procurement and other purposes.”

A short, hand-read list, not a census: 19 projects in all. Announced amounts are not spending, a letter of interest or a conditional commitment is not a loan, and amounts stay in the currency of the announcement.

Public support instruments

Stockpiles, price floors, offtake and purchasing programmes and public funds whose source names copper, and general critical-minerals instruments (marked). Each is one statement by its publisher.

  1. 2024-05-23in force from · European UnionJoint purchasingin force

    The Critical Raw Materials Act obliges the Commission to run a demand-aggregation and joint-purchasing system for strategic raw materials and to set a benchmark for strategic stocks.

    Covers: “strategic raw materials” · Materials: Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Lithium, Graphite, Nickel, Rare earths, Tungsten

    The publisher's words: “The Commission shall set up and operate a system to aggregate the demand of interested undertakings consuming strategic raw materials established in the Union”
    2 further statements from the source

    joint negotiation of purchases allowed (Article 25(5))

    The publisher's words: “may, on a transparent basis, jointly negotiate the purchase, including the prices or other terms and conditions of the purchasing agreement”

    coordination of strategic stocks (Article 23)

    The publisher's words: “shall adopt a benchmark indicating a safe level of Union strategic stocks of strategic raw materials”

  2. 2025-03-20signed · United StatesLoan programmein force

    Executive Order 14241 delegates Defense Production Act loan authority for domestic mineral production to the development finance corporation and orders a plan for a dedicated mineral production fund.

    Covers: “a critical mineral, as defined by 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3), as well as uranium, copper, potash, gold” · Materials: Copper

    The publisher's words: “establish a dedicated mineral and mineral production fund for domestic investments executed by the DFC”
    3 further statements from the source

    limit of the delegated loan authority

    The publisher's words: “The loan authority delegated by this order is limited to loans that create, maintain, protect, expand, or restore domestic mineral production”

    Export-Import Bank guidance on offtake financing

    The publisher's words: “to secure United States offtake of global raw mineral feedstock for domestic minerals processing”

    minerals covered (definition)

    The publisher's words: “means a critical mineral, as defined by 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3), as well as uranium, copper, potash, gold”

  3. 2025-06-17announced · G7Other supportannounced

    G7 leaders launched a Critical Minerals Action Plan with a roadmap for standards-based markets and a call for more public and private capital for critical minerals projects.

    Covers: “critical minerals”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name copper

    The publisher's words: “We will develop a roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals”
    3 further statements from the source

    launch of the plan

    The publisher's words: “We are launching a G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan”

    roadmap content

    The publisher's words: “The roadmap will establish a set of criteria that constitute a minimum threshold for standards-based markets”

    capital mobilisation

    The publisher's words: “We encourage our export credit agencies and development finance institutions (DFIs) to identify more opportunities for collaboration”

  4. 2025-11-04published · CanadaFundannounced

    Budget 2025 proposes a Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund at Natural Resources Canada for equity investments, loan guarantees and offtake agreements, and a First and Last Mile Fund.

    CAD 2 bn · “$2 billion over five years, on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27”

    Covers: “critical minerals projects and companies”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name copper

    The publisher's words: “provide $2 billion over five years, on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27, to Natural Resources Canada to create the Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund”
    3 further statements from the source

    tools of the fund

    The publisher's words: “including equity investments, loan guarantees, and offtake agreements”

    First and Last Mile Fund

    The publisher's words: “provide $371.8 million over four years, starting in 2026-27, to Natural Resources Canada to create the First and Last Mile Fund”

    absorbs the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund

    The publisher's words: “would absorb the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund and leverage its existing funding envelope to provide up to $1.5 billion in support through 2029-30”

  5. 2025-11-22published · United KingdomFundannounced

    The UK critical minerals strategy Vision 2035 announces public funding for critical mineral projects and says stockpiling through procurement will be considered for the defence sector.

    GBP 50 M · “up to £50 million”

    Covers: “critical mineral projects in the UK”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name copper

    The publisher's words: “funding of up to £50 million will be made available by DBT to support critical mineral projects”
    2 further statements from the source

    stockpiling under consideration

    The publisher's words: “Measures could include stockpiling, including through procurement mechanisms”

    later programme page (published 22 June 2026): grant share

    The publisher's words: “with £45 million of this available as grant funding”

  6. 2026-01-14signed · United StatesPrice floorannounced

    Presidential proclamation under section 232 directing negotiations on imports of processed critical minerals, in which price floors for trade in critical minerals are to be considered.

    Covers: “processed critical minerals and their derivative products (PCMDPs)”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name copper

    The publisher's words: “the Secretary and the Trade Representative should consider price floors for trade in critical minerals and other trade-restricting measures”

  7. 2026-02-02announced · United StatesStockpileannounced

    The Export-Import Bank approved a direct loan for Project Vault, a public-private partnership that is to establish a U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve storing raw materials for manufacturers.

    USD 10 bn · “a Direct Loan of up to $10 billion”

    Covers: “essential raw materials”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name copper

    The publisher's words: “the EXIM Board of Directors approved a Direct Loan of up to $10 billion to Project Vault”
    4 further statements from the source

    what it establishes

    The publisher's words: “a supply chain security initiative establishing the U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve”

    storage

    The publisher's words: “that will store essential raw materials in facilities across the United States”

    borrower structure

    The publisher's words: “providing long-term financing to a partnership between original equipment manufacturers and private sector capital providers”

    later EXIM release of May 4, 2026 restating the loan

    The publisher's words: “The transaction includes a direct loan of up to $10 billion”

The instruments whose source names copper are also marked on the price chart above, at the month of their date. A mark does not say the instrument moved the price.

These figures are informational, not financial advice.

Sustainability

Four indicators, the same on every profile. Each is a figure with its unit, year and source, or a plain statement that there is none.

  • Carbon

    Grid-carbon proxy: the grid intensity of the refining countries, weighted by their share of refining.

    444gCO2e/kWh

    2025Estimated

    None of the other 6 materials with a computed proxy has a lower figure.

    • Covers the countries behind 93% of refinery output (Refinery production, 2025).
    • Average grid emissions intensity of the countries that refine the material, weighted by each country's share of refinery output in the source table. Countries without a grid figure are left out and the covered share is stated. A proxy for the electricity behind refining, not a product footprint: plants may run on their own power.

  • Water

    Share of the material's mine sites on record that lie in high or extremely high baseline water stress.

    23%of mine sites on record

    2023Estimated

    Higher than all 7 other materials with rated mine sites.

    • 130 of 559 sites with a class (559 mine and brine sites on record).
    • Counted by site, not by tonnage: it is not a share of production.
    • "Arid and Low Water Use" is a class of its own in the source and is not counted as high.

  • Land

    Land visibly used by mining.

    Not available per material: the area is mapped per country for all commodities together.

    • Mapped from satellite images for all mining in a country. It cannot be attributed to one material or one site.

  • Circularity

    Recycling's share of EU demand (end-of-life recycling input rate).

    55%of EU demand

    2022Reported

    Higher than all 8 other elements in the atlas with a published EU rate.

    • Published for the EU as a whole. It cannot be compared with world shares.
    • End-of-life recycling input rate: the share of EU demand met by recycling old scrap. EU only. Values differ between assessment years partly because the method changed.
    • 6 EU targets apply to this material; they are listed below.

There is no overall score: the four figures measure different things and are not added up. How to read these figures

The figures behind the indicators

Grid-carbon proxy for refining

estimated · proxy

444gCO2e per kWh

Covers the countries behind 92.7% of refinery output (Refinery production, 2025)

CountryShare of refiningGrid intensity
China48.3%5282025
Congo (Kinshasa)9.7%282024
Chile5.9%2912025
Japan4.8%4742025
Russia3.3%4472025
United States2.9%3842025
India2.1%6712025
Germany2.1%3342025
Korea, Republic of2.1%4182025
Poland1.9%5912025
Kazakhstan1.7%8132025
Mexico1.7%4812025
Australia1.6%5182025
Indonesia1.4%7052025
Peru1.2%2382025
Canada1.1%1922025
Zambia0.9%1262024

Average grid emissions intensity of the countries that refine the material, weighted by each country's share of refinery output in the source table. Countries without a grid figure are left out and the covered share is stated. A proxy for the electricity behind refining, not a product footprint: plants may run on their own power.

Water stress where the mines are

estimated · by site

23.3%of mine sites on record lie in high or extremely high water stress (130 of 559)

  • Low (<10%)230 sites
  • Low - Medium (10-20%)36 sites
  • Medium - High (20-40%)31 sites
  • High (40-80%)20 sites
  • Extremely High (>80%)110 sites
  • Arid and Low Water Use132 sites

Of the mines and brine operations the atlas has on record for the material, the share that lies in a sub-basin with high or extremely high baseline water stress (WRI Aqueduct 4.0). Counted by site, not by tonnage: the atlas has no output figure for most sites, so this is not a share of production. "Arid and Low Water Use" is the source's own class for dry sub-basins with little demand; it is shown apart (hatched) because it is not a stress level.

Circularity

Recycling's share of EU demand (end-of-life recycling input rate)

Material2013201620192022
Copper20%55%16.9%55%

End-of-life recycling input rate: the share of EU demand met by recycling old scrap. EU only. Values differ between assessment years partly because the method changed. The latest published figure is for 2022.

EU targets that apply

Read in the original Official Journal version; later amendments are not reflected.

Risks & policy

Export controls in force

Compiled by USGS, effective January 2026. Not a live feed.

  • ▲ BanIndonesia2023

    Export ban: Bauxite (2023), copper concentrates (2023), and nickel ore (2020).

    Source ↗
  • ▲ BanLaos2024

    Export ban: Raw minerals, including copper, gold, iron, nickel, potassium, silver, and zinc (2024).

    Source ↗
  • ▲ BanTanzania2017

    Export ban: Ore concentrates of copper, gold, nickel, and silver (2017).

    Source ↗
  • ▲ BanVenezuela2024

    Export ban: Bauxite, cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, copper, gold, rhodium, silver, and thorium (2024).

    Source ↗
  • ▲ LicenceMorocco2025

    Export licensing requirement: Copper (refined and alloys) and aluminum ingots (2025).

    Source ↗

Chokepoints at sea

The atlas has no record of which minerals pass through which sea passage, so no chokepoint figure is attached to this profile. Current ship counts for the main passages are on the Live page. Open the Live page

What if?

Three calculators run on the figures of this profile. Each shows its formula and what it leaves out; none is a forecast.

What the atlas does not know about copper

How much of the chain is on record, which producer countries have no site in the atlas, how mining and refining compare, and whether a price is open.

Data coverage

Mines on record: 87% (14/14)

Plants on record: 22.4% (11/17)

Owner or operator known: 82% (11/14)

Assurance known: no public assurance list is ingested yet

  • Mines:87% of world output lies in countries with a record (14 of 14 countries)(Mine production, 2025)

    Every country in the table has a record.

  • Processing plants:22% of world output lies in countries with a record (11 of 17 countries)(Refinery production, 2025)

    Producer countries without a record: China 48%, Congo (Kinshasa) 9.7%, Japan 4.8%, Russia 3.3%, Germany 2.1%, Korea, Republic of 2.1%

  • Owners and operators:82% of world output lies in countries with a record (11 of 14 countries)(Mine production, 2025)

    Producer countries without a record: Kazakhstan 3.1%, Poland 1.8%, India 0.1%

  • Assurance: No public assurance list is ingested yet

A country in these lists marks missing data, not missing industry.

Mining and refining: who leads

  • USGS MCS 2026, 2025 (estimated)

    • Mining:Chile 23% (about 1 in 4), 2025
    • Refining:China 48% (about half), 2025

  • IEA GCMO 2026, 2025

    • Mining:Chile 24% (about 1 in 4), 2025
    • Refining:China 47% (about half), 2025

Price transparency

An open price series exists: Copper, monthly average. It is on the Money tab.

Add dataAll gaps, across materials

Sources

Every source this profile uses, with its licence, the years its figures describe and how sure the figures are. Each chip on the profile opens the single record.

Source registry for this material

History & talk

Revision history and discussion are coming soon.

Every change to a figure will be listed here with its source, its credit and its review, and each profile will have a place to discuss it. Until then the data changes only when a source is updated, and every figure links to that source.

What can be contributed today

Type the name of a material, a country, a site or a company.