Copper & Nickel Mining

Copper & Nickel Mining

Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:

Companies in this industry develop mine sites, mine and quarry copper and nickel, and prepare copper and nickel for sale. Major companies include BHP Group (Australia), Codelco (Chile), Freeport-McMoRan (US), Glencore (Switzerland), Grupo México (Mexico), and Jiangxi Copper (China).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by industrial production and economic growth. Individual company profitability depends on operating efficiency. Large companies have more resources to devote to discovering and developing new deposits. Small companies typically own just one mine, limit exploration to that one property, and aim to operate it as efficiently as possible.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Copper and nickel are often used for construction and industrial purposes, to produce various kinds of equipment and vehicles. Major products include copper and nickel ore (about 70% of US industry revenue), lead and zinc ore (about 20%), and crude ferroalloy ores and concentrates (about 5%). Copper and nickel may be used in building construction, stainless and alloy steel products, and for coins.