Copper — Structural brief

Where copper is produced

Chile is the largest producer of copper, at 23.0 percent of the published world total in 2025^[1]. It is followed by Democratic Republic of the Congo at 13.9 percent, Peru at 11.7 percent and China at 7.8 percent. The USGS puts world production at 23,000 thousand metric tons; the sum of the country figures is 23,013 thousand metric tons, the difference being rounding in the published total.^[1] Reserves are held principally by Chile (180,000 thousand metric tons), Australia (100,000 thousand metric tons), Peru (85,000 thousand metric tons)^[1].

How concentrated supply is

Measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman index over production shares, copper supply is unconcentrated, with an index of 1,206. The top three producers hold 50.0 percent of output, and 4 producers together account for half of supply. An index below 1,500 is conventionally read as unconcentrated and above 2,500 as highly concentrated; the thresholds are the United States merger-review bands, used here as a published reference point rather than as a judgement about market conduct. The United States was 57 percent reliant on net imports for copper in 2025, with the principal import sources over 2021–24 being Chile, Canada, Peru, Mexico.^[2] The principal sources of United States imports over 2021–24 were Chile (68 percent), Canada (16 percent) and Peru (7 percent)^[3]. US imports under HS 740400 (Copper waste & scrap) are highly concentrated across supplying countries, with a Herfindahl index of 3,886 and the top three partners supplying 91 percent of value.^[4]

Trade measures in force

The USGS compilation of export controls effective January 2026 records 5 measures bearing on copper. Morocco maintains an export licensing requirement covering Copper (refined and alloys) and aluminum ingots (2025), as compiled by the USGS from official and reported sources effective January 2026.^[5] Laos maintains an export ban covering Raw minerals, including copper, gold, iron, nickel, potassium, silver, and zinc (2024), as compiled by the USGS from official and reported sources effective January 2026.^[5] Venezuela maintains an export ban covering Bauxite, cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, copper, gold, rhodium, silver, and thorium (2024), as compiled by the USGS from official and reported sources effective January 2026.^[5] Indonesia maintains an export ban covering Bauxite (2023), copper concentrates (2023), and nickel ore (2020), as compiled by the USGS from official and reported sources effective January 2026.^[5] Tanzania maintains an export ban covering Ore concentrates of copper, gold, nickel, and silver (2017), as compiled by the USGS from official and reported sources effective January 2026.^[5] A control listed here removes the tonnage concerned from the international market by law, whatever the production table implies about availability.

Recent United States official notices

Federal Register documents naming copper, most recent first. 2025-11-07: Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Critical minerals are essential for national security, economic stability, and supply chain resilience because they underpin key industries, drive technological innovation, and support critical infrastructure vital for a modern American economy. The United States is heavily reliant on imports of certain mineral commodities from foreign sources, some of which are at risk of serious, sustained, and long-term supply chain disruptions.^[6]