Every year, the world extracts more than 110 billion tonnes of resources from Earth, including coal, iron ore, copper, gold, and critical materials such as lithium and cobalt.
The global mining industry is valued at over $2.16 trillion, contributing approximately 3% of global GDP directly while enabling trillions more in downstream industries like steel, energy, and manufacturing. [1]
At the center of this massive ecosystem are the largest mining companies, global giants that control a substantial share of production, reserves, and supply chains. Their decisions influence commodity prices, national economies, and the pace of technological progress.
Did you know?Australia alone accounts for roughly 50% of global iron ore exports, while Chile produces about one-quarter of the world’s copper supply. Meanwhile, the concentration of critical minerals is even more striking: The Democratic Republic of the Congo supplies around 70% of global cobalt. [2][3]
Table of Contents
15. Barrick Gold
Founded: 1982Headquarters: Canada
Key Commodities: Gold, copper
Revenue: $16.9 billion+
Competitive Edge: Tier-1 asset portfolio
Barrick Gold operates across 18+ countries and five continents, with a strong focus on Tier-1 gold and copper assets.
A cornerstone of Barrick’s business is its partnership in the Nevada Gold Mines complex, one of the world’s largest gold-producing regions. This joint venture consolidates multiple mines into a single, highly efficient operation.
Barrick is shifting toward a mix of gold and copper mining. Copper already makes up about 20% of its production, and this share is expected to grow with major projects like the expansion of Reko Diq in Pakistan and Lumwana in Zambia.
Key Insight: In 2025, Barrick produced 3.26 million ounces of gold and over 220,000 tonnes of copper.
14. Jiangxi Copper
Founded: 1979Headquarters: China
Key Commodities: Copper, gold, silver
Revenue: $80 billion+
Competitive Edge: Diversified By-Product portfolio
Jiangxi Copper operates across the full copper value chain, from mining and ore processing to smelting, refining, and downstream fabrication, making it a highly integrated industrial player.
It also produces gold, silver, sulfuric acid, and rare metals such as selenium and tellurium. These by-products contribute to revenue diversification and improve margins. Copper-related businesses alone account for nearly 86% of total revenue.
To secure a long-term supply, the company has expanded beyond China, investing in mining projects in countries such as Peru and other parts of Asia.
Key Insight: Jiangxi Copper is a production powerhouse in refined copper. In 2025, it produced about 2.38 million tonnes of cathode copper (up 3.9% year-over-year), around 270,000 tonnes of mined (contained) copper (up 35%), and roughly 1.9 million tonnes of copper fabrication products.
13. Anglo American
Founded: 1917Headquarters: United Kingdom
Key Commodities: Copper, iron ore, diamonds, platinum
Revenue: $18.5 billion+
Competitive Edge: Global leadership in Platinum
Anglo American is one of the world’s largest diversified mining companies. It produces copper, iron ore, diamonds, platinum group metals (PGMs), nickel, and fertilizers.
In 2025, the company produced 695,000 tonnes of copper. It is also a major player in the diamond industry through its majority stake in De Beers Group, and it holds a leading position in platinum group metals (PGMs), accounting for roughly 40% of global platinum production.
That same year, Anglo announced a $53 billion merger plan with Teck Resources, aiming to create one of the largest copper producers worldwide. [4]
Key Insight: Anglo American is selling or spinning off non-core assets, including steelmaking coal, nickel, and its diamond business, De Beers Group. This is part of its strategy to focus more on copper and iron ore.
12. Newmont
One of the world’s largest long-lived gold-copper mines in New South Wales, Australia
Headquarters: United States
Key Commodities: Gold, silver, copper
Revenue: $22.6 billion+
Competitive Edge: Strong cash flow & capital discipline
Newmont Corporation is the world’s largest gold mining company. It operates across North America, South America, Australia, Africa, and Papua New Guinea, giving it one of the most geographically diversified portfolios in the mining industry.
The company has strengthened its position through major acquisitions, most notably the $16.8 billion acquisition of Newcrest Mining in 2023, which substantially expanded its global footprint and copper exposure. It is also investing $1.4 billion in development projects across key assets like Cadia Valley Operations and Red Chris Mine.
Today, Newmont’s portfolio includes Tier-1 assets, such as the Carlin (USA), Boddington Gold Mine (Australia), Tanami Mine (Australia), and Ahafo Mine (Ghana). These assets are known for their long lifespan, high production levels, and relatively low operating costs.
Key Insight: Newmont is the only gold mining company in the S&P 500. It holds 118.2 million ounces of gold reserves. [5]
11. Freeport-McMoRan
Headquarters: United States
Key Commodities: Copper, gold, molybdenum
Revenue: $25.9 billion+
Competitive Edge: World-class copper assets (Grasberg & Morenci)
Freeport-McMoRan operates a portfolio of large-scale, long-life mining assets focused primarily on copper, gold, and molybdenum.
The company primarily operates in the United States, Indonesia, and South America. Its flagship asset, the Grasberg mine in Indonesia, is among the largest copper and gold deposits globally.
Freeport’s performance is closely tied to the global copper market. Copper is essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, power grids, and data centers, making Freeport one of the biggest beneficiaries of the energy transition and electrification megatrend.
Strategically, the company is focused on expanding copper production while improving cost efficiency. They have long-term plans to increase output through expansions in Indonesia and the Americas.
Key Insight: In 2025, Freeport-McMoRan produced nearly 3.4 billion pounds of copper, 1 million ounces of gold, and 92 million pounds of molybdenum. [6]
10. China Coal Energy Company Limited
Founded: 2006Headquarters: China
Key Commodities: Thermal coal, coal chemicals (methanol, olefins)
Revenue: $20 billion+
Competitive Edge: Massive domestic market advantage
China Coal Energy Company is a high-volume coal producer and distributor. It operates across the entire coal value chain, including mining, trading, coal chemicals, and power generation.
The company converts coal into value-added products such as methanol, olefins, and other chemicals. This diversification helps mitigate reliance on raw coal sales and enhances margins.
Their operations are concentrated in key mining regions like Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, where they control large coal reserves and extensive infrastructure networks.
Key Insight: China Coal Energy produces and sells over 130 million tonnes of coal annually. In 2025, it reported 21.8% decline in revenue and 20% drop in profit, mainly due to lower coal prices and reduced trading volumes.
9. Nutrien
Nutrien’s phosphate facility in Aurora, North Carolina
Headquarters: Canada
Key Commodities: Potash, Nitrogen (ammonia, urea), Phosphate
Revenue: $26.8 billion+
Competitive Edge: Integrated upstream + Retail model
Nutrien is the world’s largest fertilizer company. It was formed in 2018 through the merger of PotashCorp and Agrium.
It combines large-scale mining of crop nutrients with a global agricultural retail network.
- Upstream (Mining & Production): Potash, nitrogen, phosphate
- Downstream (Retail): Crop inputs, seeds, and agronomic services
The retain segment operates one of the largest agricultural distribution networks globally, serving farmers directly and providing stable, recurring revenue streams
Key Insight: Nutrien is a volume leader. In 2025, it achieved record fertilizer sales volumes of 27.5 million tonnes, supported by strong demand across North America, Brazil, and Australia. It is also the world’s largest potash producer, with annual potash sales volumes exceeding 14 million tonnes, alongside significant nitrogen and phosphate output. [7][8]
8. CMOC Group Limited
Founded: 1969Headquarters: China
Key Commodities: Copper, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten
Revenue: $30 billion+
Competitive Edge: Strong position in battery metals
CMOC specializes in battery metals and specialty metals such as copper, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, and niobium. It mostly operates in China, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Brazil, and Europe.
Its flagship assets include the Tenke Fungurume (TFM) and Kisanfu (KFM) copper-cobalt mines in the DRC, which contribute a substantial share of global cobalt supply. It also operates large molybdenum and tungsten mines in China, as well as a niobium-phosphate operation in Brazil.
In FY 2025, the company generated roughly $30 billion in revenue, while net profit surged to 3 billion, up nearly 50% year-on-year. This marks its fifth consecutive year of record earnings, driven primarily by strong copper and cobalt prices and rising production volumes. [9]
Key Insight: In 2025, CMOC’s copper production reached 741,100 tonnes, and its cobalt production reached 117,549 tonnes, making it one of the largest cobalt producers globally.
7. Vale
Headquarters: Brazil
Key Commodities: Iron ore, copper, nickel
Revenue: $38.4 billion+
Competitive Edge: Integrated Logistics Network
Vale is a leader in high-grade iron ore production, with strong presence in South America, Canada, and Indonesia. It plays a critical role in supplying raw materials for steelmaking and infrastructure development.
Operationally, Vale is a volume-driven mining giant. In 2025, it produced nearly 336 million tonnes of iron ore, its highest level since 2018. Interestingly, about 26.3 million tonnes came from waste materials that year, more than double the previous year. This is part of its plan to generate 10% of its output from recycled sources by 2030.
The company also produced 382,000 tonnes of copper (up around 10% year-over-year) and about 177,000 tonnes of nickel (up roughly 11%), highlighting strong growth in energy-transition metals. [10]
Key Insight: Vale operates an extensive logistics network of railways, ports, and shipping fleets, allowing it to transport ore efficiently from inland mines to global markets.
6. Aluminum Corporation of China Limited
Founded: 2001Headquarters: China
Key Commodities: Bauxite, alumina, aluminum
Revenue: $33.8 billion+
Competitive Edge: State-owned backing & strategic support
Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco) operates across the entire aluminum value chain, from bauxite mining and alumina refining to primary aluminum smelting and processing.
This company has operations spanning mining, refining, smelting, energy generation, and trading, with multiple production bases across China and overseas. It plays an important role in China’s industrial economy, as aluminum is essential for sectors like construction, transportation, aerospace, and renewable energy.
They have also launched hydropower-based aluminum smelting projects, reducing emissions and aligning with China’s decarbonization goals.
Key Insight: In 2025, Chalco produced nearly 8.08 million tonnes of primary aluminum, a 6.2% year-on-year increase, with nearly all output sold externally. It is also a major producer of alumina (refined bauxite), a key raw material for aluminum smelting.
5. China Shenhua Energy
Founded: 1995Headquarters: China
Key Commodities: Thermal coal, electricity, coal chemicals
Revenue: $42 billion+
Competitive Edge: Fully integrated energy model
China Shenhua Energy is the largest coal mining company in China and one of the biggest in the world. It has an approved production capacity of 570 million tonnes, and its coal sales reached 430.9 million tonnes in 2025
The company operates a fully integrated energy model that combines coal mining, rail transport, ports, and power generation. This vertical integration makes Shenhua not just a mining company, but a complete energy supply chain operator, supplying electricity and fuel across China.
One of Shenhua’s defining strengths is its integrated power generation business. It operates numerous coal-fired power plants, converting its own mined coal into electricity. The company also engages in coal-to-chemical projects, producing synthetic fuel and chemicals, further expanding its value chain.
Key Insight: Shenhua’s mine-mouth cost (~179 RMB/tonne) is extremely low, which allows it to stay highly profitable even when coal prices fall.
4. Zijin Mining
Founded: 1986Headquarters: China
Key Commodities: Gold, copper, zinc, lithium
Revenue: $49.7 billion+
Competitive Edge: Aggressive global acquisition strategy
Zijin Mining Group is one of the fastest-growing global mining giants. It is rapidly expanding across Africa, South America, Central Asia, and Europe.
Its strategy revolves around acquiring high-quality assets globally and scaling production aggressively to compete with Western mining majors.
Financially, Zijin has experienced explosive growth in recent years. In 2025, it generated nearly $50 billion in revenue, marking 15% year-on-year growth, while net profit surged to $7.4 billion, up more than 60%. That same year, the company produced ~90 tonnes of mined gold (+23% YoY) and over 1 million tonnes of copper.
Key Insight: Zijin owns stakes in Kamoa-Kakula, widely considered one of the richest copper deposits discovered in decades.
3. Glencore
Headquarters: Switzerland
Key Commodities: Copper, zinc, cobalt, coal, nickel
Revenue: $247.5 billion+
Competitive Edge: Unique trading + mining hybrid model
Glencore is one of the world’s largest and most unique mining the combines industrial mining operations with a massive global commodity trading business.
It operates across 30+ countries, supplying over 60 different commodities, including metals, minerals, oil, coal, and agricultural products. In 2025, it produced about 851,600 tonnes of copper, 969,400 tonnes of zinc, and 36,000 tonnes of cobalt. [11]
What truly sets Glencore apart is its sheer scale of revenue. In FY 2025, the company generated revenue of $247.5 billion, far higher than most traditional mining companies. Unlike many of its peers, a large share of this revenue comes from its trading (marketing) division, which buys, sells, and transports commodities across global markets.
Key Insight: Glencore plans to significantly increase copper production to around 1.6 million tonnes by 2035, aligning with energy transition demand. [12]
2. Rio Tinto
Iron ore operations in the Pilbara, Australia
Headquarters: United Kingdom and Australia
Key Commodities: Iron ore, aluminum, copper
Revenue: $57.6 billion+
Competitive Edge: Integrated value chain in Aluminum
Rio Tinto’s operations are heavily concentrated in Australia and Canada, which together account for nearly 70% of its asset base. The company produces more than 300 million tonnes of iron ore annually, primarily from its Pilbara operations in Western Australia.
Its portfolio includes several world-class assets, such as the Pilbara iron ore network (one of the most efficient mining systems globally) and Oyu Tolgoi (one of the largest copper-gold deposits).
Strategically, Rio Tinto is increasingly focused on future-facing commodities such as copper, lithium, and aluminum.
In 2025, its copper-equivalent production grew by nearly 8%, signaling a clear shift toward energy-transition metals. In 2026, the company reported about 13% growth in iron ore production and 9% growth in copper output. [13]
Key Insight: Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations include a fully automated rail network (AutoHaul), the world’s largest autonomous heavy-haul rail system
1. BHP Group
Headquarters: Australia
Key Commodities: Iron ore, copper, potash
Revenue: $51.2 billion+
Competitive Edge: Ultra-low-cost operations
BHP Group is the world’s largest mining company by market value. It has evolved from a small Australian mining operation into a multi-commodity giant supplying critical raw materials for global infrastructure, energy, and electrification.
At the core of BHP’s dominance is its iron ore business, particularly in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. In 2025, it achieved a record iron ore production of ~290 million tonnes and copper production exceeding 2 million tonnes for the first time, underscoring its dominance in both commodities.
The company’s asset base includes some of the most valuable mining operations in the world, such as the Escondida copper mine in Chile (the largest globally) and vast Pilbara iron ore deposits in Australia.
Key Insight: In FY2025, BHP Group generated $51.26 billion in revenue and $26 billion in underlying EBITDA, reflecting a strong 53% EBITDA margin, one of the highest in the global mining sector.
Read More
- 13 Largest Lithium Mining Companies In The World
- How Much Gold Is There In The World?
- 13 Largest Battery Manufacturers
- Mining market report and trend analysis, Research and Markets
- Australia’s mineral production drives economic growth, Discovery Alert
- Congo creates strategic cobalt reserve to influence supply and prices, Reuters
- Anglo American, Teck shareholders approve $53B merger, Mining.com
- Newmont reports mineral reserves of 118.2 million gold ounces, Newmont
- Freeport-McMoRan’s copper sales exceed estimates, Investing.com
- Nutrien’s earnings call highlights, Yahoo Finance
- Strong rebound at Nutrien with higher cash returns, Stock Titan
- CMOC’s net profit and commodities production levels, Metal.com
- Vale delivered strong operational results across all business segments, Vale
- Full year 2025 production report, Glencore
- Glencore to give $2 billion to shareholders despite profit slump, The Guardian
- Rio Tinto’s iron ore and copper production rose in Q1 of 2026, WSJ
