RANKED: Top 20 biggest copper mines 2025

Supply disruptions and the rosy demand outlook have kept copper prices on the boil this year.

Some of the world’s biggest mines are experiencing production setbacks. The shutdown of Grasberg could swing the copper market into a deficit this year, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs.

Flooding at Kamoa-Kakula, another major producer, caused its operator Ivanhoe to revise down its guidance, while Teck Resources slashed its copper guidance over persistent setbacks at its Quebrada Blanca mine in Chile and Highland Valley Copper operation in Canada.

At the same time BHP is predicting global copper demand to grow by at least a million tonnes a year, rising from the current 33 million tonnes annually to 50 million tonnes by 2050. US Geological Survey data signals supply must at lease double to avoid a severe crunch.

We rank the world’s top 20 copper mines for the first half of 2025, measured in kilotonnes of metal output.

1. Escondida

Escondida in Chile, a joint venture between BHP, Rio Tinto Mitsubishi, Nippon Mining, holds on to the top spot, producing 680,500 tonnes of copper metal in H125. While Escondida has long ranked the world’s biggest copper mine, the $53B proposed merger between Anglo American and Teck could create the world’s largest copper complex, according to analysts.

2. Grasberg

Grasberg in Indonesia, held jointly between Freeport-McMoRan and Indonesian state-owned enterprise Persero and operated by Freeport, produced 297,103 tonnes in H125. Production at Grasberg mine has been under suspension since Sept. 8 after a landslide unleashed 800,000 tonnes of mud, killing seven workers.

3. Kamoa-Kakula

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Kamoa-Kakula complex owned jointly by Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining, Crystal River and the DRC government churned out 245,129 tonnes. Ivanhoe halted operations at Kamoa-Kakula for three weeks after seismic activity on May 18 severely flooded the underground mine.

4. Las Bambas

Las Bambas mine in Peru, owned by China’s MMG Ltd, produced 210,637 tonnes in H125. The mine was plagued by protests in 2024, but protesters agreed to lift a road blockade on a key Peruvian transport route, and operations resumed in April. This year, the company said that the Chalcobamba pit would boost production for the full year.  

5. Buenavista

Buenavista in Mexico, owned and operated by Southern Copper takes fourth place with 207,473 tonnes produced. Copper has been mined at the site, just 22 miles south of the US border, continuously as far back as 1899.

6. Cerro Verde

Cerro Verde in Peru, a joint venture between Freeport-McMohRan, Sumitomo and Buenaventura 193,320 tonnes H125. The Peruvian government first mined Cerro Verde’s oxide ores and built one of the world’s first SX/EW facilities in 1972.

7. Collahuasi

Collahuasi in Chile, co-owned by Glencore, Anglo American and Mitsui produced 189,600 tonnes. In July, Chile flagged lagging output from the mine.

8. El Teniente

Chilean state run copper miner Codelco’s El Teniente, the world’s largest underground copper mine, churned out 172,000 tonnes. El Teniente experienced a multi-day shutdown due to a collapse triggered by a 4.2-magnitude earthquake in late July led to a loss of 20,000 to 30,000 metric tons.

9. Quellaveco

Quellaveco in Peru, jointly owned by Anglo American and Mitsubishi, churned out 156,600 tonnes of copper metal. This year, Anglo announced its is planning an almost $26 million upgrade at the mine.

10. Antamina

Antamina in Peru, co-owned by BHP, Glencore, Teck and Mitsubishi, produced 154,369 tonnes in H125. Antamina’s operators are forecasting an almost 20% boost in cooper output next year.

11. Morenci

Morenci mine in Arizona, held by Freeport-McMohRan and Sumitomo produced 152,458 tonnes. The mine has a long history: it was established as an underground mine in 1871 by the Longfellow Mining Company and was converted into an open-pit mine by the Phelps Dodge Corporation in 1937.

12. Oyu Tolgoi

Oyu Tolgoi, owned by Rio Tinto (and the Mongolian government, produced 152,000 tonnes to June 30. Rio said the ramp up of production from Oyu Tolgoi remains on track to deliver an average of around 500,000 tonnes of copper from 2028 to 2036.

13. Los Pelambres

Los Pelambres in Chile, a joint venture between Antofagasta, JX Metals Mitsubishi and Marubeni produced 143,200 tonnes during the period. In September, the union for supervisors rejected a contract offer, paving the way for a potential strike if further negotiations fail.

14. Spence

Spence mine in Chile, sole owned by BHP, churned out 141,300 tonnes in the first half of 2025. Last year, Spence became the company’s first fully autonomous operation, a status reached after a two-year journey that included converting its trucks fleet and drilling rigs.

15. Radomiro Tomic

Codelco’s Radomiro Tomic mine in Chile produced 139,200 in H125. Last year, it signed a new three-year collective labor contract with the union representing Radomiro Tomic workers, ending a recurring dispute.

16. Toquepala

Southern Copper’s Toquepala mine in Peru produced 128,503 tonnes in H125. A decade ago, Southern Copper sunk $1.2 billion into the mine’s expansion.

17. Olympic Dam

BHP’s Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia produced 117,000 tonnes of the metal in H125. Last week, the world’s top miner announced a A$840 million ($555 million) investment in the Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium complex, advancing a series of growth projects ahead of a multibillion-dollar expansion decision expected in 2028.

18. Chuquicamata

Codelco’s Chuquicamata mine churned out 115,300 tonnes. Mirroring progress at Radomiro Tomic, Codelco and Chuquicamata workers reached an early contract agreement late last year.

19. Salobo

Vale’s Salobo mine in Brazil’s Pará state, produced 102,800 tonnes in H125. Last year, Vale resumed operations following a one-month suspension due to fire at a processing plant.

20. Mt Isa

Mt Isa mine in Queensland, Australia, owned by Glencore, produced 98,900 tonnes of copper metal. In July, Glencore shut its final two copper mines in Mount Isa, ending more than six decades of operations.

Notable omissions: Quebrada Blanca in Chile 95,000 tonnes, (Teck, Sumitomo and Codelco); Trident-Sentinel (First Quantum Minerals, 89,469 tonnes); Kansanshi (First Quantum Minerals, 86,647 tonnes); Yulong (Western Mining co., 83,412 tonnes); Cuajone (Southern Copper, 81,738 tonnes), Los Bronces (Anglo American, 80,300 tonnes), Sierra Gorda (KGHM, 77,111 tonnes).