A list of the world’s top metal mining companies wouldn’t be complete without including BHP Group. This is one of the largest base materials producers around, including a massive nickel extraction and refining operation. The Anglo-Australian miner ranks highly among the world’s largest copper mining companies, producing 1.72 million tonnes in its 2020 financial year (ending June 2020)—a 2% year-on-year increase.
BHP jointly owns the world’s largest copper mine—the Escondida project in Chile—alongside partners Rio Tinto and JECO.
The diversified miner operates a number of other copper mines in Chile, including the Spence project, as well as the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia.
In partnership with Rio Tinto, BHP is seeking to advance the Resolution Copper project in Arizona, US, which is expected to yield around 18 million tonnes of copper over its planned lifetime.
BHP Group has several mines and refineries in Australia (the company’s home turf). The company historically generates operating profit margins topping 30%, which it uses to develop new projects and pay shareholders a cyclical but growing dividend.