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Copper facts

Copper is a soft and malleable metal that is used in:

  • electrical wires and cables for its conductivity
  • plumbing, industrial machinery and construction materials for its durability, machinability, corrosion resistance, and ability to be cast with high precision
  • many emerging and clean technologies, such as solar cells and electric vehicles

Key facts

  • In 2020, Canadian mines produced 475,898 tonnes of copper in concentrate, with over half originating from British Columbia.
  • Canada’s copper exports were valued at $7.3 billion in 2020.
  • Chile is the leading global producer of copper, accounting for almost 30% in 2020.

Learn more about copper

Uses

Copper is used in a variety of industries such as manufacturing and construction. Copper is also essential to all living organisms as a trace dietary mineral. The adult human body contains between 1.4 and 2.1 milligrams of copper per kilogram of body weight. The green energy transition is anticipated to significantly increase demand for copper because of its uses in expanding electricity networks and clean energy technologies, such as electric vehicles.

Copper, global uses, 2020

bar chart
Text version

This bar chart shows the major global uses of copper in 2020. The largest use was for equipment manufacturing (31%), followed by building construction (28%), infrastructure (16%), industrial uses (13%) and transportation (12%).

Production

Canadian mines produced almost 476,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2020, a 12% decrease from 2020 attributed to decreased production levels in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the supply of many minerals, including copper.

Consult a map of producing Canadian mines

Canadian mine production of copper, by province and territory, 2020 (p)
Ranking Province Thousand tonnes Percentage
1 British Columbia 255.7 53.7%
2 Ontario 123.6 26.0%
3 Other P/T 38.0 8.0%
4 Quebec 36.2 7.6%
5 Manitoba 22.4 4.7%
Total   475.9 100.0%

Canadian mine production of copper, 2011–2020 (p)

bar graph
Text version

This bar graph shows Canada's annual mine production of copper from 2011 to 2020. Production was 552,321 tonnes in 2011 and increased gradually to a peak of 697,322 tonnes in 2015. Production then decreased to 527,510 tonnes in 2018 before climbing to 543,609 tonnes in 2019 and decreasing to 475,898 tonnes in 2020.

International context

Chile was the world leader in copper production in 2020 with 5.7 million tonnes of copper, or 29%, of the global total of mined production.

World mine production of copper, by country, 2020 (p)
Ranking Country Thousand tonnes Percentage
1 Chile 5,700 28.5%
2 Peru 2,200 11.0%
3 China 1,700 8.5%
4 Dem. Rep. Congo 1,300 6.5%
5 United States 1,200 6.0%
6 Australia 870 4.4%
7 Russia 850 4.3%
8 Zambia

830

4.2%
9 Mexico 690 3.5%
10 Kazakhstan 580 2.9%
11 Canada 570 2.9%
12 Other countries 3,700 18.5%
Total   20,000 100%

World mine production of copper, 2011–2020 (p)

bar graph
Text version

This bar graph shows the world's annual production of mined copper from 2011 to 2020. Production was 16.0 million tonnes in 2011 and increased gradually to a peak of 20.6 million tonnes in 2018. Production remained at 20.6 million tonnes in 2020.

World reserves

Chile had the largest global copper reserves in 2020 with 200 million tonnes, or 23% of the world total.

World reserves of copper, by country, 2020 (p)

circular chart
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This circular chart shows the estimated percentages of world reserves of copper by country in 2020. Chile had the largest share with 23%, followed by Peru (11%), Australia (10%), Russia (7%), Mexico (6%), the United States (6%), Poland (4%), and China (3%). Canada did not rank within the top 10. All other countries combined accounted for 31%.

Trade

Canada's total trade (exports and imports) in copper and copper-based products in 2020 was valued at $10.8 billion.

Exports

Canada's total copper and copper-based products exports were valued at $7.3 billion in 2020, a 3% increase compared to 2019.

Canada exported 445,934 tonnes of copper concentrate in 2020, an increase of 9% from 411,124 tonnes exported in 2019. These copper concentrate exports were valued at $4.4 billion, representing a 16% price increase from 2019 values.

Canada exported 172,339 tonnes of refined copper in 2020, representing a 15% increase compared to 149,330 tonnes in 2019. These exports of refined copper were valued at $1.4 billion in 2020, up 15% from $1.2 billion in 2019.

Imports

Total copper and copper-based products imports were valued at $3.46 billion in 2020, down 3% from $3.6 billion in 2019.

In 2020, the United States was the primary source of Canada’s copper and copper-based products imports, accounting for half of the total, followed by Chile (18%), China (5%) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (4%). Smaller amounts were imported from more than 100 other countries.

Prices

The price of copper has fluctuated significantly over the last decade. The average monthly price per tonne was US$8,828 in 2011, a peak average monthly price. Prices declined after 2011 to US$4,868 monthly average price per tonne in 2016 before partially recovering in 2018 to US$6,530. Prices dipped in 2019 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but quickly recovered. The average monthly copper price in 2020 was US$ 6,174.

Copper price, monthly average, nominal US$ per tonne, 2011–2020

line graph
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This line graph shows the monthly average nominal price of copper in US dollars per tonne from 2011 to 2020. The yearly copper price started at a peak of $8,828 per tonne in 2011. Prices declined steadily to $4,868 per tonne in 2016. Prices recovered to $6,530 per tonne in 2018 before declining to $6,010 per tonne in 2019 and increasing to $6,174 per tonne in 2020.

Recycling

Copper is one of the few materials that does not degrade or lose its chemical and physical properties during the recycling process. Recycling has the potential to extend the use of resources and minimize waste.

The International Copper Study Group estimated that 32% of the world's copper consumption came from recycled copper in 2018.

Canada maintains a strong copper recycling industry. Substantial amounts of the metal are recovered in the Quebec-based smelter and refinery located in Rouyn-Noranda and Montréal, respectively.

Notes and sources

(p) preliminary

Totals may be different because of rounding.

All dollars are Canadian unless otherwise indicated.

Uses

  • Copper, global uses, 2019
    • International Copper Study Group

Production

  • Canadian mine production of copper, by province and territory, 2020 (p)
    • Natural Resources Canada
  • Canadian mine production of copper, 2011–2020 (p)
    • Natural Resources Canada

International context

  • World mine production of copper, by country, 2020 (p)
    • U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2021
  • World mine production of copper, 2011–2020 (p)
    • International Copper Study Group
  • World reserves of copper, by country, 2020 (p)
    • U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2021

Trade

  • Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada
    • Mineral trade includes ores, concentrates, and semi- and final-fabricated mineral products
    • Copper concentrates consist of HS code 260300
    • Refined copper consists of HS codes 74031 and 74032

Prices

  • Copper price, monthly average, nominal US$ per tonne, 2011–2020
    • World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet)
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