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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 2021, Canadian mines produced 541,648 tonnes of copper in concentrate, with over half originating from British Columbia.
  • Canada’s copper exports of copper and copper-based products was valued at $9.9 billion in 2021.
  • Chile is the leading global producer of copper, accounting for 28% in 2021.

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 (data for 2021 is unavailable). The largest use was for equipment manufacturing (32%), followed by building construction (28%), infrastructure (16%), transportation (12%) and industrial uses (12%).

Production

Canadian mines produced almost 542,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2021, a 6% decrease from 2020 attributed to decreased production primarily in Ontario because of a labour disruption in Sudbury. British Columbia was Canada’s largest producer with 57% of all Canadian copper production.

Consult a map of producing Canadian mines

Canadian mine production of copper, by province and territory, 2021 (p)
Ranking Province Thousand tonnes Percentage
1 British Columbia 310.9 57.4%
2 Ontario 128.8 23.8%
3 Newfoundland and Labrador 28.7 5.3%
4 Manitoba 25.3 4.7%
Others 47.9 8.8%
Total   541.6 100.0%

Canadian mine production of copper, 2021 (p)

bar graph
Text version

This bar graph shows Canada's annual mine production of copper from 2012 to 2021. Production was 560,476 tonnes in 2012 and increased gradually to a peak of 697,322 tonnes in 2015. Production then decreased to 527,510 tonnes in 2018 before climbing to 578,966 tonnes in 2020 and decreasing to 541,648 tonnes in 2021.

International context

Chile was the world leader in mined copper production in 2021 with 5.6 million tonnes of copper, or 28%, of the global total of mined production. The total world mined copper production was approximately 21 million tonnes in 2021. Canada produced 3% of mined copper globally, ranking 11th place overall.

World refined copper production increased by 1% from 24.5 million tonnes (20.7 million tonnes from primary sources and 3.8% from secondary sources) in 2020 to 24.9 million tonnes refined copper (20.8 million tonnes from primary sources and 4.1 million tonnes from secondary sources) in 2021.

World mine production of copper, by country, 2021 (p)
Ranking Country Thousand tonnes Percentage
1 Chile 5,600 26.8%
2 Peru 2,200 10.5%
3 China 1,800 8.6%
4 Dem. Rep. Congo 1,800 8.6%
5 United States 1,200 5.7%
6 Australia 900 4.0%
7 Zambia 830 3.9%
8 Russia

820

3.9%
9 Indonesia 810 3.9%
10 Mexico 720 3.4%
11 Canada 542 2.6%
  Other countries 3,710 17.7%
Total (rounded)   21,000 100.0%

World mine production of copper, 2012–2021 (p)

bar graph
Text version

This bar graph shows the world's annual production of mined copper from 2012 to 2021. Production was 16.7 million tonnes in 2012 and increased gradually to a peak of 20.6 million tonnes in 2018. Production remained steady at 20.6 million tonnes until 2020 and increased slightly to 21.1 million tonnes in 2021.

World refined production of copper, 2010–2019 (p)

Text version

This bar graph shows the world refined production of copper from 2012 to 2021 from both primary and secondary sources. Refined copper production was 20.2 million tonnes in 2012 (16.6 million tonnes from primary and 3.6 million tonnes from secondary sources). It increased gradually to 23.4 million tonnes (19.5 million tonnes from primary and 3.9 million tonnes from secondary sources) in 2016.

Copper refined production remained relatively steady until 2019 at 24.0 million tonnes (20.0 million tonnes from primary sources and 4.0 million tonnes from secondary sources). It showed a modest increase in 2020 to 24.5 million tonnes (20.7 million tonnes from primary sources and from 3.8 million tonnes from secondary sources).

There was a 1% increase in world refined copper in 2021 from the previous year to 24.9 million tonnes (20.8 million tonnes from primary sources and 4.1 million tonnes from secondary sources).

World reserves

Chile had the largest global copper reserves in 2020 with 200 million tonnes, or 23% of the world total. The global copper reserves are estimated at 880 million tonnes, and Canada is estimated to have 9.8 million tonnes or 1% of the global total.

World reserves of copper, by country, 2021 (p)

circular chart
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This circular chart shows the estimated percentages of world reserves of copper by country in 2021. Chile had the largest share with 23%, followed by Australia (11%), Peru (9%), Russia (7%), Mexico (6%), the United States (5%), Poland (4%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (4%), China (3%), Indonesia (3%), Zambia (2%), and Kazakhstan (2%). Canada did not rank within the top 10, but contains 1% of the known global copper reserves. All other countries combined accounted for 21%.

Trade

Canada's total trade (exports and imports) in copper and copper-based products in 2021 was valued at $15.0 billion.

Exports

Canada's total copper and copper-based products domestic exports were valued at $9.9 billion in 2021, a 34% increase from $7.4 billion in 2020. The main importer of Canadian copper-based products was the United States, importing 50% of the total value, with China (15%) and Japan (12%), as second and third, respectively.

Canada exported 429,513 tonnes of copper in copper ores and concentrates in 2021, a decrease of 6% from 455,153 tonnes exported in 2020. These exports were valued at $4.2 billion, representing a 21% increase from 2020 values. China and Japan were the leading destinations of Canadian copper concentrate in 2021.

Canada exported 157,958 tonnes of refined copper in 2021, representing an 8% decrease compared to 172,327 tonnes in 2020. These exports of refined copper were valued at $1.8 billion in 2021, up 30% from $1.4 billion in 2020.

Imports

Total copper and copper-based products imports were valued at $5.1 billion in 2021, up 48% from $3.5 billion in 2020. Refined copper alone was valued at $727 million.

In 2021, the United States was the primary source of Canada’s copper and copper-based products imports, accounting for over half of the total (56%), followed by Chile (16%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (5%) and China (4%). Smaller amounts were imported from 117 other countries.

Prices

The price of copper has fluctuated significantly over the last decade. The average monthly price per tonne was US$7,962 in 2012, with a peak average monthly price of US$8,470 in March 2021. Prices declined after 2012 to US$4,868 monthly average price per tonne in 2016 before partially recovering in 2018 to US$6,530. Prices dipped in early 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but quickly recovered and began climbing quickly in late 2020 to reach a peak of $US10,162 in May 2021. Prices stayed relatively high in 2021 and averaged US$9,317 for the year.

Copper price, monthly average, nominal US$ per tonne, 2012–2021

line graph
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This line graph shows the monthly average nominal price of copper in US dollars per tonne from 2012 to 2021. The yearly copper price started at an average of $7,962 per tonne in 2021. 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. In 2021, prices saw a steep increase, averaging $9,317 per tonne for the year.

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 30% of the world's copper consumption came from recycled copper in 2019.

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, 2020
    • International Copper Study Group

Production

  • Canadian mine production of copper, by province and territory, 2021(p)
    • Natural Resources Canada
  • Canadian mine production of copper, 2012–2021 (p)
    • Natural Resources Canada

International context

  • World mine production of copper, by country, 2021 (p)
    • U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2022
    • Canadian values from Natural Resources Canada
  • World mine production of copper, 2012–2021 (p)
    • International Copper Study Group
    • Canadian values from Natural Resources Canada
  • World refined production of copper, 2012–2021 (p)
    • International Copper Study Group
  • World reserves of copper, by country, 2021 (p)
    • U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2022

Trade

  • Statistics Canada
    • Mineral trade includes ores, concentrates, and semi- and final-fabricated mineral products HS chapter 74 – copper and articles thereof
    • Copper in copper ores and concentrates consist of HS code 2603.00.10
    • Refined copper consists of HS subchapter 7403

Prices

  • Copper price, monthly average, nominal US$ per tonne, 2012–2021
    • World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet)

Recycling

  • Copper, recycling, 2019
    • International Copper Study Group
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