Gitnux/Report 2026

Mining Industry Statistics

Australia’s mining contributed $858B to GDP in 2021–22 (13.7% of the total)—explore the industry’s reach and impacts worldwide.
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November 10, 2026Updated
Mining Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Edited by Daniel Varga·Fact-checked by Rebecca Hargrove
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

An editor sets the topic, the inclusion criteria, and the evaluation framework before research starts.

02Source Research

AI search agents locate sources and extract each figure together with the document it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 39 days

01 Industry overview

The mining industry at a glance

Mining remains a strategically vital, highly concentrated industry: U.S. nonfuel mineral production reached $112 billion in 2025, while the top three mining countries supplied 77% of key energy minerals.

$112B[79]
U.S. nonfuel production, 2025
77%[83]
Top-three mining share, 2024
30%[83]
Potential copper shortfall by 2035
$909B[84]
Top 40 mining-company revenue, 2025
Market size
U.S. nonfuel mineral production was estimated at $112 billion in 2025, comprising $38.1 billion of metal production and $73.7 billion of industrial minerals. Natural aggregates accounted for $39.4 billion of industrial-mineral output.[79]
Market share & regions
Mining supply remains geographically concentrated. The top three producing countries accounted for 77% of key energy-mineral mining in 2024, while the top three refining countries held 86% of refined-material supply.[83]
Segmentation
The U.S. nonfuel mining industry is divided into metals and industrial minerals. In 2025, metals represented $38.1 billion of production value, while industrial minerals represented $73.7 billion, including $39.4 billion from natural aggregates.[79]
Key players & concentration
The world’s top 40 mining companies generated $909 billion in revenue and $120 billion in net profit in 2025. Concentration is especially pronounced in critical minerals: China was the dominant refiner for 19 of 20 strategic minerals, with an average share of about 70%.[84][83]
Pricing
Mineral prices were mixed in 2025. Global bismuth prices increased 270%, antimony 144% and germanium 106%, while lithium declined 24%, manganese 19% and nickel 11%; gold and silver prices rose 38% and 34%, respectively.[79]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Electrification, grid expansion, batteries, semiconductors and AI are increasing demand for copper and other critical minerals. However, the IEA projects a potential 30% copper supply shortfall by 2035, while high concentration, declining ore grades, rising capital costs and long project lead times constrain supply growth.[83]
Consumer behavior & competition
Mining demand is mainly industrial rather than consumer-led, with purchasing shaped by energy, construction, manufacturing and technology requirements. Battery chemistry is changing competition: lithium-iron-phosphate batteries reached nearly half of the electric-car market, up from less than 10% in 2020, increasing the importance of phosphate and manganese supply chains.[83]
M&A
Mining M&A rebounded in 2025, with overall deal value increasing 20% from 2024, driven particularly by demand for high-quality copper assets. Major transactions included the proposed Anglo American–Teck merger and Rio Tinto’s $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium.[83][84]
Regulation
Export controls are becoming a central regulatory risk: more than half of strategic minerals were subject to some form of export control by November 2025. China introduced restrictions affecting gallium, germanium, antimony, tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, indium and heavy rare earth elements during 2024 and 2025.[83]
Latest news
The latest IEA outlook reports that critical-mineral investment declined 9% in 2025, while battery-metals investment fell more than 20% and lithium investment declined about 40%. Copper-focused companies were an exception, increasing investment 8% as demand expectations strengthened.[83]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Mining Industry

The leading companies in the mining industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 9, 2026 · Next review December 9, 2026

Verdict

BHP and Barrick Mining Corporation are tied at the top of Gitnux's 2026 mining ranking with an Overall score of 9.3 each.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in copper mining

    BHP

    AU

    Ranked #1 · 9.3 · Copper mining

    Why we picked it: It operates major iron ore and copper assets, with fiscal-2026 iron ore guidance up to 296 million tonnes on a 100% basis.

    See in ranking ↓Visit bhp.com ↗

  2. Leader in gold and copper mining

    Barrick Mining Corporation

    CA

    Ranked #2 · 9.3 · Gold and copper mining

    Why we picked it: Its gold and copper mining footprint produced 220,000 tonnes of copper in 2025.

    See in ranking ↓Visit barrick.com ↗

  3. Leader in diversified mining and marketing

    Glencore

    CH

    Ranked #4 · 9.0 · Diversified mining and marketing

    Why we picked it: Its diversified model covers production, processing, recycling, sourcing, and commodity marketing.

    See in ranking ↓Visit glencore.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the mining industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

BHP

Copper mining · AU

9.3
2

Barrick Mining Corporation

Gold and copper mining · CA

9.3
3

Rio Tinto

Copper mining · GB

9.0
4

Glencore

Diversified mining and marketing · CH

9.0
5

Zijin Mining Group

Copper mining · CN

8.9
6

Southern Copper

Copper, molybdenum, zinc and silver mining · US

8.8
7

Nornickel

Nickel, palladium, platinum, copper and cobalt · RU

8.6
8

KGHM Polska Miedź

Copper, silver, nickel and other metals · PL

8.2
9

Anglo American

Copper, premium iron ore and crop nutrients · GB

8.2
10

Fortescue

Iron ore mining and global mineral development · AU

8.0

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 9, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Top 10 companies in the mining industry. In Mining Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mining-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Comparison

Revenue of the largest mining companies

Glencore leads with $247.5B in annual revenue (group level, converted to USD).

Glencore$247.5B
Rio Tinto$57.6B
BHP$51.3B
Zijin Mining Group$49.7B
Anglo American$18.5B
Barrick Mining Corporation$17.0B
source-verifiedglencore.com · riotinto.com · bhp.com · zijinmining.com · angloamerican.com · barrick.com2025

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

AI and automation adoption is measurable in mining surveys, with 39% implementing AI solutions in 2024. Autonomous haulage also scaled, reaching 3,832 units in July 2025.

AI in the mining industry

  • 39% of respondents to a 2024 mining technology survey reported implementing AI solutions.[1]
  • 15 of 19 major mining companies tracked by McKinsey reported financial gains from AI in the third quarter of 2025.[2]
  • 56% of surveyed mineral-exploration professionals used AI and machine-learning tools occasionally in 2025, while 21% used them regularly.[3]
  • 77% of 135 global mineral-exploration professionals reported using AI tools at some level in their exploration operations in 2025.[3]
  • 81% of employees at major global mines believed AI would significantly affect their operations within 10 years, according to a 2024 survey.[4]
  • 7.3% of Canadian mining enterprises invested in AI technology in 2023.[5]

Automation in the mining industry

  • The global autonomous haul-truck fleet reached 3,832 units in July 2025, an 84% year-on-year increase.[6]
  • Autonomous haulage exceeded 2,000 trucks worldwide in 2024.[6]
  • Approximately 1.3 million connected mining-IoT units were in use globally in 2023, compared with about 0.6 million in 2018.[6]
  • Rio Tinto’s Perth operations centre remotely controlled 50 autonomous trucks, according to a 2024 mining automation report.[1]
  • Autonomous, autonomous-ready and tele-remote units represented 4.2% of key mobile mining equipment in July 2025, up from below 1% in 2020.[6]
  • More than 60% of surveyed mining professionals reported deploying automation technologies in 2024.[1]

Digital Transformation in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • Mining and metals executives ranked process intelligence, data mining and robotic-process automation as a digital priority for 56% of respondents in 2024.[7]
  • Across metals companies surveyed globally, 20% did not have a digital-transformation road map in 2025.[8]
  • U.S. mining firms recorded a 70.90% digitalization rate in the latest federal business-technology survey.[9]
  • Across metals companies surveyed globally, 44% had a digital-transformation strategy and were actively taking steps forward in 2025.[8]
  • Across metals companies surveyed globally, 28% were developing a digital-transformation strategy in 2025.[8]

Technology Adoption in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • Nevada mining association members reported 40.4% adoption of cloud computing, 35.3% adoption of encryption and cybersecurity, and 33.8% adoption of IoT and connected devices in 2021.[10]
  • Among global mining and metals companies, 17% identified autonomous steel production, such as autonomous vehicles, among the two technologies with the greatest expected supply impact in 2023.[11]
  • Among global mining and metals companies, 48% said artificial intelligence would have the greatest impact on increasing metal supplies over the next five years in 2023.[11]
  • Among global mining and metals companies, 21% identified technologies that enhance recovery from recycled materials as a leading supply-enabling technology in 2023.[11]
  • Among global mining and metals companies, 31% identified 5G networks as one of the two technologies most likely to increase metal supplies over the next five years in 2023.[11]

Cloud Computing in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • Global mining executives expected high-power computing and cloud to affect their businesses within five to ten years for 92.2% of respondents.[12]
  • Mining executives identified cloud adoption as a digital priority for 12% of respondents planning investments over the next one to two years in 2024.[7]
  • U.S. mining businesses reported a 37.05% cloud-computing adoption rate in the federal business-technology survey.[9]
  • Global mining executives said high-power computing and cloud would affect their businesses within one year for 52.6% of respondents in the Mining Journal survey.[12]

Big Data in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • Chilean mining companies reported that 7.52% analyzed large volumes of data from sensors or smart devices in the sectoral Industry 4.0 study.[13]
  • Mining executives said big data and predictive analytics could affect their businesses within one year for 40.5% of respondents in the Mining Journal survey.[12]
  • Chilean mining companies reported that 9.02% performed big-data analysis in the sectoral Industry 4.0 study.[13]
  • Global mining and metals companies ranked data analytics among the two technologies most likely to increase metal supplies, with 42% selecting it in 2023.[11]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Connected-mining deployments create the data base for analytics, with 1.3 million connected mining units estimated worldwide in 2023. On-premise holds the largest deployment share in 2024.

Business intelligence in the mining industry

  • 77.6% was the 2024 revenue share attributed to solutions in the connected-mining market, compared with services.[14]
  • 42.8% was the Asia-Pacific share of the connected-mining industry in 2024.[14]
  • 64% of surveyed geoprofessionals reported using or considering data science scripting, advanced analytics, machine learning or artificial intelligence.[15]
  • $30.95 billion was the projected global connected-mining market size for 2030.[14]
  • 11.0% was the projected compound annual growth rate for the global connected-mining market from 2025 to 2030.[14]
  • 1.3 million connected mining units were estimated worldwide in 2023 across equipment, people and environmental monitoring applications, creating data sources for mining intelligence.[16]

Data analytics in the mining industry

  • $17.26 billion was the estimated 2024 market size for connected mining solutions using sensors, connected devices, software and analytics.[14]
  • 1.3 million connected devices were estimated to be in use across the global mining sector in 2023, spanning equipment, people and environmental applications.[16]
  • The equipment segment represented the largest share of connected mining solutions installed worldwide in 2023.[16]
  • 11.5 billion metric tons had been moved using Komatsu autonomous haulage, with fleet data supporting productivity and safety analytics, by April 2026.[17]
  • Processing and refining was the largest application segment in the connected-mining market in 2024.[14]
  • On-premise deployment held the largest deployment share of the connected-mining market in 2024.[14]

Data Quality in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across geoprofessionals globally, 36% identified knowing they had the most current and best-quality data as their biggest collaboration challenge in 2023.[18]
  • Across mining respondents globally, 33% said they lacked the necessary information to make data-driven decisions in 2023.[18]
  • Across geoprofessionals globally, 50% expressed high confidence in their organisation’s ability to manage data quality in 2023.[18]
  • Across geoprofessionals globally, 30% rated unmanaged historical data as a significant data-management challenge in 2023.[18]
  • Across geoprofessionals globally, 30% identified real-time access to datasets in a usable format as their biggest collaboration challenge in 2023.[18]

Data Governance in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across geoprofessionals globally, 29% said a single source of truth was the most important expected outcome from resolving data-management issues in 2023.[19]
  • Across geoprofessionals without an established framework globally, 56% planned to obtain one within three years in 2023.[18]
  • Across geoprofessionals globally, 45% reported having an established data chain of custody in 2023.[18]
  • Across geoprofessionals globally, 30% reported having an established data-management framework in 2023.[18]
  • Across geoprofessionals globally, 14% said reporting tools showing who accessed or edited data were their biggest collaboration challenge in 2023.[18]

KPIs in the mining industry

  • 25.2% of Rio Tinto’s workforce were women in 2024, up from 24.3% in 2023.[20]
  • 579,500 employees were recorded in the U.S. mining industry in 2025 in the Bureau of Labor Statistics long-run industry table.[21]
  • Nine of 12 Rio Tinto projects remained on track against approved Investment Committee plans in 2024.[20]
  • 0.3% was the annual decline in U.S. mining hours worked in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.[21]
  • 2.0% was U.S. mining labor-productivity growth in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.[21]
  • 1.8% was U.S. mining output growth in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.[21]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Copper supply planning sits against a demand pressure: the IEA projects a potential 30% copper supply shortfall by 2035. Forecast copper production growth points to tight timing for new capacity.

Growth in the mining industry

  • Gold exploration budgets fell 6.8% in 2024, according to EY’s mining analysis.[7]
  • World refined copper production was forecast to rise 0.4% in 2026 and 3% in 2027.[22]
  • Zinc-lead exploration budgets fell 14.5% in 2024, according to EY’s mining analysis.[7]
  • The average historical availability of copper reserves was 38 years from 1960 through 2022.[22]
  • World copper mine production was forecast to grow 1.6% in 2026 and 2.3% in 2027.[22]
  • Copper reserves reached 890 million tonnes by 2022, after increasing by 457 million tonnes since 2000.[22]

Mergers and acquisitions in the mining industry

  • US$70 billion was the approximate value of completed mining and metals M&A deals in 2024, down 15% year over year.[7]
  • US$3.9 billion was the value of global silver, lead and zinc M&A activity in 2024, compared with US$0.8 billion in 2023.[7]
  • Mining and metals represented 16% of Chinese overseas M&A value in 2025.[7]
  • Approximately 90% of 2024 silver, lead and zinc M&A value came from the five largest deals.[7]
  • US$970 million was the value of First Majestic Silver’s acquisition of Gatos Silver deposits in Mexico.[7]
  • 441 completed mining and metals M&A deals were recorded in 2024, down 12% year over year.[7]

Strategic partnerships in the mining industry

  • More than 2,600 small, local and Indigenous businesses participated in BHP-operated projects’ local-business spending in FY2024.[23]
  • A$32 million was spent through BHP’s Local Buying Program in South Australia in FY2023.[23]
  • US$6.6 billion had been contributed by BHP to social, community and training programs through WA Iron Ore since 2014.[23]
  • 70% of Kamoto Copper Company was held by Katanga Mining, with Gécamines and the DRC state holding the remaining 30% through three ownership interests.[24]
  • A$160 million was committed by BHP to housing, education and community infrastructure in Port Hedland.[23]
  • 190.6 kilotonnes of copper and 27.2 kilotonnes of cobalt were produced by the Kamoto Copper Company joint venture in 2024.[24]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce planning links to retraining and replacement needs, since more than half of the U.S. mining workforce—about 221,000 workers—was expected to retire by 2029. Remote work remains limited in extraction-heavy roles.

Hiring in the mining industry

  • Minmetals reported 9,410 new hires and 166,811 total employees at the end of 2024.[25]
  • Mining companies in Canada were estimated to need C$117.1 billion of current and potential project investment across 138 projects, implying substantial future labor demand in 2024.[26]
  • 35,363 female employees and 13,990 female managers were reported by Minmetals at the end of 2024.[25]
  • Mining and mineral engineering programs in the United States had declined to decade-low graduation levels by 2025.[27]
  • More than half of the U.S. mining workforce—about 221,000 workers—was expected to retire by 2029.[27]

Employee retention in the mining industry

  • Turnover at Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African gold operations was 17.30% in 2024.[28]
  • Annual employee turnover in Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African region rose from 13.6% in 2023 to 15.97% in 2024.[28]
  • Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African operations recorded a 15.97% annual employee turnover rate in 2024.[28]
  • Annual turnover in Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African management workforce was 2.96% in 2024.[28]
  • The mining industry in Canada was estimated to require about 246,000 hires through 2035, with 86% needed to replace retirees.[29]

Remote Work in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • In the U.S. mining industry, about 16% of workers worked remotely at least sometimes during October 2023–September 2024, including hybrid and fully remote work.[30]
  • Across Chilean mining and supplier companies, 55.6% of mining companies reported applying remote work during the pandemic, according to a survey referring to 2020.[31]
  • 100% of surveyed large-scale mining companies in Chile adopted virtual work in administration and support areas during the COVID-19 period, according to a survey referring to 2020.[31]
  • Across Chilean mining and supplier companies, remote work covered 8.9% of extraction workers, 10.5% of processing workers, and 9.8% of maintenance workers, according to a survey referring to 2020.[31]
  • Across Chilean mining and supplier companies, 57.1% expected to maintain remote work in some positions after the pandemic, according to a survey referring to 2020.[31]

Hybrid Work in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • 2.4% of U.S. construction and extraction workers worked remotely at least sometimes during October 2023–September 2024, including hybrid and fully remote work.[30]
  • 16% of U.S. mining workers worked remotely at least sometimes during October 2023–September 2024, including hybrid and fully remote work.[30]
  • 76% of mining, quarrying, and oil-and-gas workers surveyed globally considered hybrid or remote work in an international relocation destination appealing in 2025.[32]
  • 3.4% of U.S. farming, fishing and forestry workers worked remotely at least sometimes during October 2023–September 2024, including hybrid and fully remote work.[30]

Upskilling in the mining industry

  • Freeport-McMoRan non-managerial employees received an average of 72 training hours in 2024.[33]
  • Freeport-McMoRan managers received an average of 58 training hours in 2024.[33]
  • Mongolian Mining Corporation reported average training of 56.3 hours per employee in 2024.[34]
  • Kenmare Resources invested US$2.29 million in training and delivered 76,541 training hours in 2024.[35]
  • Torex Gold delivered 228,564 total training hours to 4,420 workers in 2024, averaging 52 hours per worker.[36]

Employee Engagement in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • At Mineral Resources Limited, 70% employee engagement was recorded in the FY2024 annual survey, three percentage points above the reported industry average of 67%.[37]
  • Across approximately 25 mining and metals organizations, 88% of employees agreed that they understood how their work contributed to company goals in a benchmark collected from July 2025 through June 2026.[38]
  • Across approximately 25 mining and metals organizations, 23% of employees were considering or actively seeking another job in a benchmark collected from July 2025 through June 2026.[38]
  • Across approximately 25 mining and metals organizations, 67% of employees were engaged in a Culture Amp benchmark collected from July 2025 through June 2026.[38]
  • Across approximately 25 mining and metals organizations, 27% of employees disagreed that the company acted when someone was not delivering in their role in a benchmark collected from July 2025 through June 2026.[38]

DEI in the mining industry

  • 8% of AusIMM survey respondents had experienced sexual harassment in their mining workplace in 2024.[39]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Supplier selection is shaped by delivery risk and technical doubt, with 60% citing failure to deliver on time as a source of doubt. Real-time data-analytics and predictive-maintenance interest are both at 43% and 51% among buyers.

Customer experience in the mining industry

  • 98% was Guangdong Found’s annual overall customer-satisfaction rate in fiscal 2025, according to Silvercorp Metals.[40]
  • 95.6% was Henan Found’s annual overall customer-satisfaction rate in fiscal 2025, according to Silvercorp Metals.[40]
  • 96.8% was Silvercorp Metals’ annual overall customer-satisfaction rate in fiscal 2025.[40]
  • 6.3 out of 7 was TOMRA Mining’s average customer-service score in its 2024 survey of mining customers globally.[41]
  • 6.0 out of 7 was TOMRA Mining’s average service-team score in its 2018 customer survey.[41]

Customer retention in the mining industry

  • 75% of mining decision-makers said an emotional connection with a supplier’s brand matters when shortlisting vendors.[42]
  • 68% of mining buyers said failed projects affect future purchasing decisions in Harbour’s research.[42]
  • 25.5% of Nevada mining businesses identified attracting or retaining customers as a significant business challenge in 2023.[10]
  • 69% of mining buyers cited concerns about supplier expertise as a source of doubt affecting supplier selection.[42]
  • 60% of mining buyers cited supplier failure to deliver on time as a source of doubt affecting supplier selection.[42]

Customer acquisition in the mining industry

  • 76% of underground mining operations expected investment to increase over the following 12 months, versus 53% of open-pit mines.[43]
  • 43% of mining buyers were interested in real-time data-analytics investment.[43]
  • 57% of mining buyers said supplier messaging was exaggerated and overcomplicated in Harbour’s account-based-marketing research.[42]
  • 51% of mining buyers were interested in predictive-maintenance investment, creating a leading acquisition opportunity for suppliers.[43]
  • 15 information sources were consulted by some mining buyers during supplier evaluation, according to Harbour’s research.[43]

Customer loyalty in the mining industry

  • 60% of mining buyers identified failure to deliver on time as a factor undermining supplier confidence.[42]
  • 68% of mining buyers said failed projects affect their future purchasing decisions.[42]
  • +57 was TOMRA Mining’s Net Promoter Score in its 2024 survey of mining customers.[41]
  • 75% of mining decision-makers said emotional connection to a supplier brand matters when shortlisting vendors.[42]
  • 93% of TOMRA Mining respondents were satisfied with technical support and service-engineer competence in 2024.[41]

Lead generation in the mining industry

  • More than 50% of mining buyers continued to rely on in-person engagement as a key information channel.[42]
  • 19% of mining buyers ranked evaluation and planning software as their highest-priority investment area.[43]
  • 63% of mining organisations involved more than 11 stakeholders in vendor selection, requiring multi-stakeholder lead nurturing.[43]
  • 51% of mining buyers were interested in predictive-maintenance solutions in Harbour’s 2025 buyer research.[43]
  • 43% of mining buyers were interested in real-time data-analytics solutions.[43]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Buyer trust issues show up in procurement research: 75% cited lack of transparency as a source of doubt, and 68% did not trust AI despite using it in buying. Prior experience drives shortlisting for 75% of mining buyers.

Marketing in the mining industry

  • 68% of mining buyers said failed projects affect future purchasing decisions, making proof of delivery important in marketing.[42]
  • 75% of mining decision-makers said emotional connection with a supplier brand matters when shortlisting vendors.[42]
  • 75% of mining buyers shortlisted vendors based on previous experience, according to Harbour’s global buyer research.[42]
  • 70% of mining buyers described supplier websites as too sales-focused.[42]
  • 63% of mining buyers used large language models daily or weekly to support solution searches.[42]

Digital marketing in the mining industry

  • More than 50% of mining buyers relied on in-person engagement as a key information channel despite expanding digital research.[42]
  • 75% of metals and mining companies in BCG’s survey still relied on manual or disparate systems for procurement.[44]
  • 30% to 40% was the estimated digital-maturity gap between metals and mining and comparable industries in BCG’s Digital Acceleration Index.[45]
  • 67% of heavy-industry buyers allowed artificial intelligence to play a central role in purchasing decisions, according to Harbour’s mining research.[42]
  • 68% of mining buyers did not trust artificial intelligence despite using it in the buying process.[42]

Branding in the mining industry

  • 75% of mining buyers shortlisted vendors based on previous experience, linking brand credibility with supplier history.[42]
  • 75% of mining buyers cited lack of transparency as a source of doubt about supplier claims.[42]
  • 69% of mining buyers cited concerns about supplier expertise as a source of doubt about supplier credibility.[42]
  • 68% of mining buyers said failed projects affect future purchasing decisions and supplier perceptions.[42]
  • 60% of mining buyers cited failure to deliver on time as a source of supplier doubt.[42]

Influencer Marketing in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • In 2026, Paula Mineria’s mining-related TikTok content had generated 1.6 million likes across audiences in Colombia, Japan, Chile, Panama, Canada and the United States.[46]
  • In 2026, Cory Rockwell’s most-watched underground-mining video reached 6.9 million views, demonstrating the potential scale of employee-led influencer content in mining.[46]
  • In 2026, Cory Rockwell’s underground-mining TikTok content had accumulated 5 million likes, providing a sector-specific audience benchmark for employee and operator advocacy.[46]
  • In 2026, underground mining influencer Cory Rockwell had 117,100 TikTok followers, using videos about explosives, haul trucking, bolting and underground work.[46]
  • In 2026, Colombian mining and metallurgy student Paula Mineria had 110,600 TikTok followers, illustrating the reach of mining-focused influencer content.[46]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Automation affects throughput and safety metrics in operational reports, with 20%–25% fewer accidents and minimized downtime after automated process-control systems in 2024. Data automation also scales, with 72% of collected data automated in 2024.

Process optimization in the mining industry

  • 15%–20% higher labour productivity was reported after automated mining process-control systems were introduced at Russian mining enterprises in 2024.[47]
  • 72% of data collected by mine owners was automated in 2024, with owners expecting automation to reach 80% of collected data within two years; global mining industry.[48]
  • 20%–25% fewer accidents and minimized downtime were reported after automated mining process-control systems were introduced at Russian mining enterprises in 2024.[47]
  • 45% of mine owners said automation enabled them to execute more condition-monitoring projects per year in 2024; global mining industry.[48]
  • 32% of mine owners increased the number of condition-monitoring parameters measured through automation during 2022–2024; global mining industry.[48]

Operational efficiency in the mining industry

  • 18.13 million tonnes of ore were processed by the San Cristóbal SAG mill in Bolivia in 2024.[49]
  • 284–296 million tonnes was BHP’s fiscal-2026 production guidance for Western Australia Iron Ore on a 100% basis.[23]
  • 257 million tonnes of Western Australia Iron Ore were produced by BHP in fiscal 2025, up 1% year on year; Western Australia.[23]
  • 90 minutes of driver-changeover delay per train was reduced to zero by Rio Tinto’s AutoHaul system in the Pilbara; Western Australia.[50]
  • More than 305 million tonnes per year is BHP’s medium-term Western Australia Iron Ore production target on a 100% basis.[23]

Supply chain in the mining industry

  • 4.5% of global nickel consumption was accounted for by the United States in 2024.[51]
  • 3.6% of global cobalt consumption was accounted for by the United States in 2024.[51]
  • 1.7% of global rare-earth consumption was accounted for by the United States in 2024.[51]
  • More than 90% of China’s nickel-matte imports in 2023 came from Indonesia, after imports rose nearly 28-fold from 2020.[52]
  • More than two-thirds of global nickel production came from Indonesia and the Philippines in 2024.[53]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the mining and metals sector (sector benchmark)

  • 30% of mining and metals companies rated outsourcing more functions and capabilities to third-party specialists a top or significant cybersecurity talent priority in 2023.[54]
  • 75.0% was the average outsourcing rate among Chile’s large-scale mining companies in 2019.[55]
  • Contractors represented 54% of Queensland’s mining-industry workforce in fiscal year 2022–2023.[56]
  • 54.0% was the average outsourcing rate among Chile’s medium-sized mining companies in 2019.[55]
  • 13.5% was the average outsourcing rate among Chile’s small-scale mining companies in 2019.[55]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Price dispersion remains visible in 2025 inputs, with global bismuth up 270% and lithium down 24%. For iron ore, BHP planned low-capital-intensity investment cost is $38 per tonne for the Western Ridge Crusher Project.

Pricing strategy in the mining industry

  • $98.4 per dry metric tonne was the 2024 average Platts index price for 62% iron fines converted to a free-on-board basis, versus Rio Tinto’s $97.4 realized price.[20]
  • $89.6 per wet metric tonne was Rio Tinto’s average realized Pilbara iron-ore price in 2024 on a free-on-board basis.[20]
  • $97.4 per dry metric tonne was Rio Tinto’s average realized Pilbara iron-ore price in 2024 on a free-on-board basis.[20]
  • 75% of Rio Tinto’s 2024 Pilbara iron-ore sales included freight, while 25% were sold on a free-on-board basis.[20]
  • $201.5 per tonne was Glencore’s average realized steelmaking-coal price in 2024.[24]

Cost reduction in the mining industry

  • $23.0 per tonne was Rio Tinto’s 2024 Pilbara iron-ore unit cost, up $1.5 per tonne from 2023.[20]
  • $0.5 billion of annual business-support cost reductions had already been achieved by Anglo American by mid-2024.[57]
  • $115.6 per tonne was Glencore’s 2024 steelmaking-coal FOB unit cash cost.[24]
  • 4% lower unit costs were reported by Anglo American in the first half of 2024, supported by operational improvements and cost control.[57]
  • $17.29 per tonne was BHP’s fiscal-2025 C1 unit cost for Western Australia Iron Ore.[23]

Profitability in the mining industry

  • $16.249 billion was Rio Tinto’s 2024 Pilbara underlying EBITDA.[20]
  • 19% lower was Rio Tinto’s 2024 underlying EBITDA compared with 2023, primarily because of lower realized prices and slightly lower shipments.[20]
  • Less than 3 years was BHP’s expected payback period for its Port Hedland Car Dumper 6 investment after first ore.[23]
  • $14.4 billion was BHP’s fiscal-2025 Western Australia Iron Ore underlying EBITDA.[23]
  • $11.652 billion was Rio Tinto’s 2024 Pilbara net cash generated from operating activities.[20]

Financial planning in the mining industry

  • $38 per tonne was BHP’s planned low-capital-intensity investment cost for the Western Ridge Crusher Project.[23]
  • 284–296 million tonnes was BHP’s fiscal-2026 Western Australia Iron Ore production planning range on a 100% basis.[23]
  • $6.50 per tonne was BHP’s medium-term average annual sustaining-capital guidance for Western Australia Iron Ore, excluding specified automation and decarbonization programs.[23]
  • $1.6 billion was Anglo American’s planned capital-spend reduction used in its 2024–2026 transformation planning.[57]
  • $0.4 billion was included in Rio Tinto’s 2024 Pilbara capital investment after operating cash generation.[20]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Autonomous and aftermarket offerings scale in parallel, with 500+ autonomous Komatsu 930E trucks deployed globally across customer sites. Service contracts also anchor recurring support, with Epiroc’s equipment coverage at 31% in 2025.

Product development in the mining industry

  • More than 500 autonomous Komatsu 930E trucks were deployed globally across customer sites, according to Komatsu’s 2026 product update.[17]
  • 33 Cat 793 haul trucks were selected for conversion to autonomous haulage at Freeport-McMoRan’s Bagdad copper mine in Arizona in 2023.[58]
  • 620 autonomous trucks were operating for Caterpillar customers across three continents in 2023.[58]
  • 41 Komatsu 930E haul trucks were being converted to autonomous operation at BHP’s South Flank iron-ore mine in Western Australia in 2022.[17]
  • 300 autonomous haulage system trucks had been delivered to Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations in Western Australia by August 2024.[17]

Product lifecycle in the mining industry

  • 31% of Epiroc’s equipment operated under a service contract in 2025, linking equipment ownership with lifecycle support.[59]
  • 71% of Epiroc employees worked in aftermarket roles in 2025, many on-site with mining customers.[59]
  • 579 Komatsu autonomous trucks were operating at 19 sites in four countries on the company’s autonomous-haulage system page.[17]
  • 1.3 million connected mining solution units were estimated to be installed worldwide across equipment, people and environmental applications in 2023.[16]
  • 66% of Epiroc’s revenue came from aftermarket activities in 2025, including service, tools, attachments, digital solutions and midlife services.[59]

After-sales in the mining industry

  • 42% of Epiroc’s revenue came from service activities in 2025, including service agreements, repairs, training, digital solutions and other support.[59]
  • Epiroc’s aftermarket offering included service, rock-drilling tools, ground-engaging tools, hydraulic attachments, digital solutions, training and midlife services in 2025.[59]
  • 24% of Epiroc’s revenue came from tools and attachments in 2025, an aftermarket category serving mining and related equipment users.[59]
  • Service contracts covered 31% of Epiroc’s equipment in 2025, providing recurring maintenance and support after the initial equipment sale.[59]

Value proposition in the mining industry

  • 12.5% annual gross productivity gains were estimated for U.S. mines that had fully adopted GPS-enabled technologies, measured as cost reductions holding output constant.[60]
  • More than 11.5 billion metric tons of material had been moved by Komatsu FrontRunner customers using autonomous haulage by April 2026.[17]
  • Komatsu’s FrontRunner system generated approximately $2.4 billion in reported global social impact in 2024 using impact-accounting methodologies.[17]
  • 9.4% annual net productivity gains were estimated for U.S. mining from GPS compared with a counterfactual without satellite-based positioning.[60]
  • Luck Stone’s autonomous Cat 777 fleet hauled more than 2 million tons within its first year of operation at the Bull Run plant in Virginia.[61]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Water intensity and reporting appear as quantifiable controls, with 4.4 cubic metres of water per tonne of mineral as weighted-average for 2023. ESG disclosure coverage spans water and social investment data reporting across large companies.

Sustainability in the mining industry

  • 3.25 million cubic metres was the weighted-average water consumption of 25 major mining companies in 2023.[62]
  • 51 of 61 large mining companies reported water-recycling data in the 2024 Mining Company ESG Index.[63]
  • 4.4 cubic metres of water per tonne of mineral was the weighted-average water-use intensity of 25 major mining companies in 2023.[62]
  • 50 of 61 large mining companies reported social-investment data in the 2024 Mining Company ESG Index.[63]
  • 1.4 million hectares of global tree cover were lost to mining between 2001 and 2020.[52]

ESG in the mining industry

  • 75% of reporting businesses identified human rights as a material social topic in the SGS mining survey.[64]
  • 70% of ESG and sustainability governance bodies reported in the SGS mining survey had board-level oversight.[64]
  • 45% of reporting mining and minerals businesses had their ESG and sustainability data assured by an independent third party.[64]
  • 76% of reporting mining and minerals businesses had a senior-level body governing ESG and sustainability risks and performance.[64]
  • 80% of reporting businesses identified diversity and equal opportunity as a material social topic in the SGS mining survey.[64]

Ethics in the mining industry

  • 64% of transition-mineral mining allegations affected local communities and their environment.[65]
  • 61 allegations involving Indigenous Peoples’ rights were recorded across transition-mineral mining from 2010 to 2023.[66]
  • 17 gender-related allegations, including sexual abuse and livelihood impacts, were recorded across transition-mineral mining from 2010 to 2023.[66]
  • 630 human-rights and environmental allegations were recorded in transition-mineral mining between 2010 and 2023.[65]
  • 36 alleged violations of free, prior and informed consent were recorded in transition-mineral mining from 2010 to 2023.[66]

CSR in the mining industry

  • US$532,020 was Lundin Mining’s reported social-investment contribution in 2024 for the cited program.[67]
  • US$2.871 million was Lundin Mining’s 2024 direct community investment at Candelaria.[67]
  • 157,199 off-site jobs were supported by Anglo American’s operations in 2024.[57]
  • US$12.1 billion was Anglo American’s local-procurement spend in 2024.[57]

Circular economy in the mining industry

  • 3% of South Africa’s national water consumption was attributed to mining in the cited analysis.[13]
  • 60% of South African mine waste was directed to tailings facilities in the cited analysis.[13]
  • 3.25 million cubic metres was the weighted-average water consumption of 25 major mining companies in 2023, indicating the scale of water resources managed by the sector.[62]
  • 4.4 cubic metres per tonne of mineral was the weighted-average water-use intensity of 25 major mining companies in 2023.[62]
  • 3.44–4.00 billion tonnes of mine tailings are estimated to be generated globally each year.[68]

Carbon footprint in the mining industry

  • 61 large mining companies reported Scope 3 emissions data in the 2024 Mining Company ESG Index.[63]
  • 61 large mining companies reported carbon-emissions data in the 2024 Mining Company ESG Index.[63]
  • 247 tonnes of CO2-equivalent was the approximate weighted-average greenhouse-gas output of the 25-company critical-minerals sample in 2023, as charted by the IEA.[62]
  • 8% of global greenhouse-gas emissions came from metal processing in 2024.[69]
  • 3% of global greenhouse-gas emissions came from mining in 2024.[69]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Geographic concentration persists, with 28.0 million tonnes of global copper mine capacity in 2024 and utilization at 82.1%. Chinese overseas mining and metals deals reached $6.9 billion in 2025.

Globalization in the mining industry

  • US$6.9 billion was the value of Chinese overseas mining and metals deals in 2025, up 63% year over year.[7]
  • 28.0 million tonnes was global copper mine capacity in 2024, with capacity utilization of 82.1%.[22]
  • 23.19 million tonnes of world copper mine production was forecast for 2025.[22]
  • 38% of global iron ore supply came from Western Australia in 2023, according to BHP.[23]
  • 22.981 million tonnes of copper were mined worldwide in 2024, according to the International Copper Study Group.[22]

Supplier management in the mining industry

  • US$26 billion was BHP’s global supplier payment total, according to its supplier information.[23]
  • A$14.3 million was spent with 85 suppliers through BHP’s New South Wales Energy Coal Local Buying Program in FY2026.[23]
  • US$3.3 billion was spent by BHP-operated projects with more than 2,600 small, local and Indigenous businesses in FY2024.[23]
  • US$3.1 billion was spent by BHP-operated projects with more than 2,200 local and Indigenous businesses.[23]
  • A$590 million was spent by BHP with 330 local suppliers in Western Australia in FY2024.[23]

Stakeholder management in the mining industry

  • US$11.9 million was invested by BMA in FY2024 in education, training, environmental, Indigenous economic-development, health and wellbeing projects.[23]
  • More than US$80 million was spent by BMA with Indigenous and Traditional Owner businesses in FY2024.[23]
  • A$98 million was spent by Olympic Dam with Indigenous businesses in FY2024.[23]
  • A$66.3 million was spent by Olympic Dam with 10 Traditional Owner suppliers in FY2024.[23]
  • More than 9,500 employees and contractors were associated with BMA’s FY2024 community contribution in Queensland.[23]

16 Statistics

Regional markets

Regional production concentration is clear in key minerals, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo producing 2.99 million metric tons of mined copper in 2024. It accounted for 75% of global cobalt output in 2024.

The mining industry in Congo

  • 2.99 million metric tons of mined copper were produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2024.[76]
  • 226,000 metric tons of mined cobalt were produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2024.[76]
  • 75% of global cobalt output came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2024, making it the world’s leading cobalt producer.[76]
  • 98.5% of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s exports by value came from mining and hydrocarbon products in 2024.[77]

The mining industry in United States

  • 512.5 million short tons of coal were produced in the United States in 2024, from 524 producing mines.[78]
  • $38.1 billion was the estimated value of U.S. metal mine production in 2025.[79]
  • $112 billion was the estimated value of nonfuel minerals produced at U.S. mines in 2025, up 6% from 2024.[79]
  • 1.82 million people were employed in U.S. nonfuel mining and related sectors in 2025.[79]

The mining industry in Mexico

  • 99,938.5 million Mexican pesos was the 2024 production value of gold in Mexico’s mining and metallurgical industry.[80]
  • 3,903.8 tonnes of silver were extracted in Mexico in 2024.[80]
  • 4,902,340 tonnes of iron were extracted in Mexico in 2024.[80]
  • 409,550 tonnes of copper were extracted in Mexico in 2024.[80]

The mining industry in Peru

  • 9.0% of Peru’s gross domestic product came from the mining subsector in 2024.[81]
  • US$5.0 billion was invested in Peru’s mining sector in 2024.[79]
  • 238,860 people held direct formal mining jobs in Peru in 2024.[79]
  • 64.2% of Peru’s export value came from mining in 2024.[81]
  • US$62.738 billion in mining exports were recorded by Peru in 2025, up 29.8% from 2024.[82]

Key questions about the Mining Industry

How large is the mining market in the U.S.?
U.S. nonfuel mineral production reached $112 billion in 2025. It comprised $38.1 billion of metal production and $73.7 billion of industrial minerals.
What growth is expected for copper production?
World copper mine production was forecast to grow 1.6% in 2026 and 2.3% in 2027. World refined copper production was forecast to rise 0.4% in 2026 and 3% in 2027.
Which companies lead the mining industry?
BHP and Barrick Mining Corporation are tied at the top of Gitnux's 2026 mining ranking with an Overall score of 9.3 each.
How is technology changing mining operations?
Across respondents to a 2024 mining technology survey, 39% reported implementing AI solutions. In connected mining, 1.3 million connected mining-IoT units were in use globally in 2023, supporting analytics and automation.
How concentrated is supply in mining and refining?
The top three producing countries supplied 77% of key energy minerals in 2024. The top three refining countries held 86% of refined-material supply.
What pricing and investment signals matter most in 2025?
Mineral prices were mixed in 2025, with bismuth up 270%, antimony up 144%, and germanium up 106%, while lithium fell 24%, manganese rose 19%, and nickel rose 11%. Latest IEA outlook data showed critical-mineral investment declined 9% in 2025.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Mining Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mining-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Mining Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/mining-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Mining Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mining-industry-statistics.

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