Global Copper Mining – A Strategic Industry
Chile leads global production: As the world’s top copper producer, Chile supplies about 25% of global output, producing over 5 Mt of this metal annually. Other major producers include Peru, China, the U.S., and the DRC.
Poland ranks among the top players: With nearly 600,000 t of refined copper annually, Poland is the 13 th largest copper producer globally and Europe’s largest silver producer.
Mostly open-pit mining worldwide: While most global copper is extracted via open-pit methods, Poland’s mines are exclusively underground, offering a smaller surface footprint and reduced environmental disruption.
Poland’s dominant position in Europe: The EU holds just under 41 Mt of copper in resources—over 50% of which are in Poland. Finland, the second-largest holder, has less than a third of that amount.
Deep mining is already a reality: As demand and prices for metals keep rising, mining deeper becomes economically viable. Many mines operate at great depths, with notable examples of Kidd Creek Mine in Ontario, where copper and zinc are mined at depths beyond 2,930 m subsurface.
