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 2017, Canadian mines produced 604,481 tonnes of copper in concentrate, with almost half originating from mines in British Columbia
- Canada was estimated to have 11 million tonnes of copper reserves, or roughly 1.4% of the world total, in 2017
- More than 90% of Canada’s refined copper exports were destined for the United States, while Canada sourced more than 75% of its copper-bearing raw material imports (concentrates, residues, waste and scrap) from the United States in 2017
In 2017, Canadian mines produced 604,481 tonnes of copper in concentrate, a 14% decrease from 2016, attributed to lower production levels in British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and Yukon.
Find out more about copper production in Canada:
Canadian mine production of copper, by province and territory, 2017 (p)
| Ranking | Province | Thousand tonnes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | British Columbia | 298.8 | 49.4% |
| 2 | Ontario | 172.4 | 28.5% |
| 3 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 39.2 | 6.5% |
| 4 | Manitoba | 39.1 | 6.5% |
| 5 | Quebec | 38.6 | 6.4% |
| 6 | Yukon | 16.3 | 2.7% |
| Total | 604.4 | 100.0% |
World mine production of copper, by country, 2017
| Ranking | Country | Thousand tonnes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chile | 5,503.5 | 27.5% |
| 2 | Peru | 2,445.6 | 12.2% |
| 3 | China | 1,706.4 | 8.5% |
| 4 | United States | 1,285.2 | 6.4% |
| 5 | Congo, D.R. | 999.2 | 5.0% |
| 6 | Australia | 867.1 | 4.3% |
| 7 | Zambia | 785.2 | 3.9% |
| 8 | Mexico | 767.5 | 3.8% |
| 9 | Russia | 690.6 | 3.5% |
| 10 | Indonesia | 637.9 | 3.2% |
| 11 | Kazakhstan | 630.9 | 3.2% |
| 12 | Canada | 604.5 | 3.0% |
| – | Other countries | 3,059.1 | 15.3% |
| Total | 19,982.7 | 100.0% |
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