Global sales for copper ore exports from all countries totaled US$102.4 billion in 2024.

That dollar amount reflects a 76.1% acceleration from five years earlier in 2020 when exported copper was worth $58.1 billion.

Year over year, globally exported copper increased by 8.9% compared to $94 billion starting from 2023.

The 5 biggest exporters of copper ore are Chile, Peru, Indonesia, Brazil and Australia. Collectively, that concentrated group of suppliers shipped nearly two-thirds (65.4%) of the total value for exported copper ore during 2024.

Copper is a relatively soft, malleable and ductile metal which is the preferred electrical conductor for most forms of electrical wiring with one caveat. Copper is excluded from overhead electric power transmission where aluminum is often chosen.

While roughly half of mined copper is used in electrical wires and cables, copper serves as an essential component in electrical motors, as well as a corrosion-resistant and weatherproof building material notably for roofs, spires, rain gutters and doors.

Applying a continental lens, over half (55%) of worldwide copper ore exports came from suppliers in Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean. Asia was the source for another 19.6% of the global total, ahead of 10.2% worth of copper ore exported from North America.

Smaller percentages of international sales originated from Australia and Papua New Guinea in Oceania (5.3%), Europe (5.2%), Africa (4.8%).

For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 2603 for copper ores and concentrates.

Copper Ore Exports by Country

Below are the 25 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of copper ore during 2024.

1. Chile: US$30.1 billion (29.4% of exported copper ore)
2. Peru: $20.7 billion (20.2%)
3. Indonesia: $8 billion (7.8%)
4. Brazil: $4.2 billion (4.1%)
5. Australia: $4.1 billion (4%)
6. Mexico: $3.9 billion (3.8%)
7. Canada: $3.8 billion (3.7%)
8. Mongolia: $3.3 billion (3.2%)
9. Kazakhstan: $3.2 billion (3.1%)
10. Democratic Republic Congo: $3 billion (2.9%)
11. United States: $2.8 billion (2.7%)
12. Russia: $1.5 billion (1.4%)
13. Philippines: $1.31 billion (1.3%)
14. Papua New Guinea: $1.3 billion (1.3%)
15. Serbia: $1.24 billion (1.2%)
16. Ecuador: $1.16 billion (1.1%)
17. Spain: $1 billion (1%)
18. Taiwan: $742.2 million (0.7%)
19. Botswana: $735.9 million (0.7%)
20. Saudi Arabia: $694.3 million (0.7%)
21. South Korea: $684.9 million (0.7%)
22. Türkiye: $661.8 million (0.6%)
23. Armenia: $558.3 million (0.5%)
24. Bulgaria: $505.1 million (0.5%)
25. Laos: $470.2 million (0.5%)

By value, the listed 25 countries shipped 97.1% of copper ore exported around the world in 2024.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing copper ore exporters since 2023 were: Papua New Guinea (up 183.8%), Philippines (up 76%), Russia (up 53.9%) and Bulgaria (up 47.1%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported copper ore sales were led by: South Korea (down -55.2% from 2023), Taiwan (down -22.2%), Australia (down -8.3%), Serbia (down -7.9%) and Ecuador (down -6.1%).

Countries Exporting Highest Volumes of Copper by Shipment Weight

The listing below reveals which countries shipped the greatest tonnage of copper ore during 2024.

By shipment value, the listed top exporters accounted for 89.1% of all copper ore sold on international markets.

1. Chile: 14,490,524 tons of exported copper (up 22.6% from 2023)
2. Peru: 9,596,426 tons (down -3.5%)
3. Indonesia: 2,470,134 tons (down -17.3%)
4. Kazakhstan: 1,852,074 tons (down -7.5%)
5. Mongolia: 1,695,401 tons (up 11.2%)
6. Mexico: 1,675,081 tons (down -38.6%)
7. Brazil: 1,421,514 tons (up 5.1%)
8. Australia: 1,312,432 tons (down -9.6%)
9. Democratic Republic Congo: 791,392 tons (up 0.1%)
10. Serbia: 754,769 tons (down -21.4%)
11. Spain: 630,374 tons (up 19.1%)
12. Ecuador: 523,661 tons (down -14.2%)
13. Russia: 488,278 tons (down -5%)
14. Türkiye: 473,438 tons (up 19.6%)
15. Philippines: 457,425 tons (up 235.2%)

Double-digit increases in copper ore exports by shipment weight were recorded by shippers in the Philippines (up 235.2% since 2023), Chile (up 22.6%), Türkiye (up 19.6%), Spain (up 19.1%) and Mongolia (up 11.2%).

Posting double-digit year-over-year declines were copper suppliers in Mexico (down -38.6% from 2023), Serbia (down -21.4%), Indonesia (down -17.3%) then Ecuador (down -14.2%).

Average Unit Prices for Exported Copper Ore

The worldwide average price for exported copper ore was US$2,361 per ton during 2024.

That global average reflects 506.9% in inflation compared to $389 per ton for 2020. The annual percentage change for copper ore exports results from a 123.8% acceleration from the average $1,055 for 2023.

The list below is sorted in ascending order for the top 15 exporters of copper ore by total exported dollar value.

1. Chile: US$2,076 per ton of exported copper (up 2.9% from 2023)
2. Peru: $2,154 per ton (up 6.4%)
3. Indonesia: $3,226 per ton (up 15.8%)
4. Brazil: $2,925 per ton (up 14.1%)
5. Australia: $3,122 per ton (up 1.4%)
6. Mexico: $2,308 per ton (up 69.6%)
7. Canada: $10,807 per ton (up 14%)
8. Mongolia: $1,958 per ton (up 13.7%)
9. Kazakhstan: $1,706 per ton (up 11.4%)
10. Democratic Republic Congo: $3,757 per ton (up 33.7%)
11. United States: $8,641 per ton (up 13.2%)
12. Russia: $3,026 per ton (up 62.1%)
13. Philippines: $2,854 per ton (down -47.5%)
14. Papua New Guinea: $3,381 per ton (up 33,710%)
15. Serbia: $1,645 per ton (up 17.1%)

Among the top copper ore suppliers by total dollar value, the lowest average prices are charged by sellers in Serbia ($1,645 per ton), Kazakhstan ($1,706 per ton), Mongolia ($1,958 per ton) and Chile ($2,076 per ton).

The most expensive copper ore exports in 2024 were shipped by Canada ($10,807 per ton), United States of America ($8,641 per ton) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ($3,757).

Countries Generating Highest Surpluses Trading Copper

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for copper ore during 2024. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s copper ore exports and its import purchases for that same commodity.

1. Chile: US$30 billion (net export surplus up 25.9% since 2023.
2. Peru: $20.6 billion (up 2.5%)
3. Indonesia: $8 billion (down -4.3%)
4. Brazil: $4.2 billion (up 23.7%)
5. Australia: $4.1 billion (down -5.4%)
6. Mongolia: $3.3 billion (up 26.4%)
7. Kazakhstan: $3.1 billion (up 5.6%)
8. Canada: $3.01 billion (up 21.9%)
9. Democratic Republic Congo: $2.97 billion (up 33.9%)
10. United States: $2.8 billion (up 9.3%)
11. Mexico: $2.2 billion (down -32.3%)
12. Papua New Guinea: $1.3 billion (up 183.8%)
13. Russia: $1.25 billion (up 61.6%)
14. Ecuador: $1.16 billion (down -6.1%)
15. Serbia: $931.5 million (down -26.9%)

World-leading copper exporter Chile generated the highest surplus in the international trade of copper ore. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms strong competitive advantage under this specific product category for South America’s seventh-largest country by population.

Countries Incurring Worst Deficits Trading Copper

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for copper ore during 2024. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s copper ore import purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

1. mainland China: -US$67.5 billion (net export deficit up 11.2% since 2023.
2. Japan: -$13.6 billion (up 15.6%)
3. South Korea: -$4.5 billion (up 3.8%)
4. India: -$3.7 billion (up 24.1%)
5. Germany: -$2.4 billion (down -28.2%)
6. Bulgaria: -$2 billion (up 23.8%)
7. Spain: -$1.5 billion (down -9.8%)
8. Finland: -$1.02 billion (up 18.9%)
9. Philippines: -$1.01 billion (down -59.9%)
10. Poland: -$619.8 million (down -5.8%)
11. Sweden: -$460 million (down -48.2%)
12. Namibia: -$398.6 million (up 87%)
13. Uzbekistan: -$237.8 million (2023 data unavailable)
14. Malaysia: -$225.7 million (up 319.3%)
15. Zambia: -$121.1 million (up 93.1%)

The People’s Republic of China incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of copper ore. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights China’s strong competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for copper ore-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful demand from the rapidly expanding Chinese economy.

Copper Ore Exporting Companies

Below is a sampling including the world’s largest copper ore producers. Show within parenthesis is the country where the business is headquartered.

• Donner Metals (Canada)
• First Quantum Minerals (Canada)
• Freeport-McMoRan (United States)
• Grupo México (Mexico)
• Hindustan Copper (India)
• Hudbay Minerals (Canada)
• KAZ Minerals (Kazakhstan)
• KGHM (Poland)
• Konkola Copper Mines (Zambia)
• Lundin Mining (Canada)
• Minera Escondida (Chile)
• MMG Limited (Australia)
• OZ Minerals (Australia)
• Palabora Mining Company (South Africa)
• Teck Resources (Canada)

The Chilean firm Minera Escondida operates the world’s highest-producing copper ore mine.
 

See also Chile’s Top 10 Exports, Iron Ore Exports by Country, Top Tin Exporters, Iron Ore Imports by Country and China’s Top 10 Imports

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on June 6, 2025

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on June 6, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 6, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on June 6, 2025

Wikipedia, Copper. Accessed on June 6, 2025

Wikipedia, Copper mining companies. Accessed on June 6, 2025