The mining sector is full of companies that explore and mine for precious and base metals and minerals. Some companies explore and produce energy commodities like coal and petroleum.
These materials are used to manufacture a broad range of industrial products, capital goods, and consumer items including machines, computers, clothing, buildings, and automobiles. Still, other companies in the industry even produce agricultural commodities.
Mining is a global industry, but four of the largest companies are headquartered in China, the world's second-largest economy. Other big mining names are based in the U.K., Switzerland, Australia, and Brazil.
The following is a list of the 10 biggest mining companies by 12-month trailing(TTM)revenue. Some companies outside the U.S. report profits semi-annually instead of quarterly, so the data may be older than it is for companies that report quarterly. Data is courtesy of TradingView unless otherwise noted. All figures are as of Aug. 22, 2024, unless otherwise noted.
This list is limited to companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada, either directly or throughAmerican depositary receipts (ADRs).
However, we note that one of these companies trades at such low volumes that it should be avoided even though it has publicly listed ADRs: Jiangxi Copper (600362). Due to its size and importance, it is included on the list, but with the ticker symbol associated with its listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE).
Key Takeaways
- Companies in the mining sector explore and mine for precious and base metals.
- Base, rare, and precious metals are used in a variety of ways, including the production of industrial products, capital goods, and consumer items.
- The top 10 mining companies trade directly or over-the-counter in the U.S. and Canada.
- Glencore leads the top 10, while Jiangxi and BHP take second and third place.
1. Glencore PLC(GLNCY)
- Revenue (TTM): $225.97 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $-516.74 billion
- Market Cap: $65.90 billion
- 1-YearTotal Return: -1.61%%
- Exchange: OTC
Glencore is a Switzerland-based multinational commodity trading and mining company. It produces metal, mineral, energy, and agricultural commodities. The company serves the automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing, and oil sectors globally.
2. Jiangxi Copper Co. Ltd.(600362)
- Revenue (TTM): $73.70 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $955.56 million
- Market Cap: $7.03 billion
- 1-Year Total Return: Not Available
- Exchange: Shanghai Stock Exchange
Jiangxi Copper is a China-based copper mining company. It engages in the extraction and processing of precious and scattered metal, as well as sulphuric chemistry. The company's products include copper cathode, gold, silver, sulphuric acid, copper rod, copper tube, and copper foil.
3. BHP Group Ltd.(BHP)
- Revenue (TTM): $55.22 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $7.36 billion
- Market Cap: $139.73 billion
- 1-Year Total Return: -1.77%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
BHP is an Australia-based international resources company. It explores and mines minerals, including coal, iron ore, gold, titanium, ferroalloys, nickel, and copper properties. It is focused on helping the world decarbonize with its products and services. The company serves customers worldwide.
4. Rio Tinto PLC(RIO)
- Revenue (TTM): $53.96 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $10.71 billion
- Market Cap: $107.28 billion
- 1-Year Total Return: 3.75%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Rio Tinto is a U.K.-based multinational metals and mining company. It explores and mines aluminum, borax, copper, gold, gypsum, iron ore, molybdenum, silver, titanium dioxide feedstock, diamonds, and zircon. The company serves customers in various industries worldwide.
5. Vale SA(VALE)
- Revenue (TTM): $42.04 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $9.73 billion
- Market Cap: $45.61 billion
- 1-Year Total Return: -15.42%
- Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
Vale is a Brazil-based multinational mining company. It produces iron ore, pellets, manganese, iron alloys, gold, nickel, copper, bauxite, alumina, and aluminum. The company also owns and operates railroads and maritime terminals. The company operates in approximately seven different countries, plus Brazil.
Some of these stocks are only tradedover-the-counter (OTC)in the U.S., not on exchanges. Trading OTC stocks often can carry higher trading costs than trading stocks on exchanges. This can lower or even outweigh potential returns.
6. Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd.(ZIJMF)
- Revenue (TTM): $40.20 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $3.06 billion
- Market Cap: $54.47 billion
- 1-Year Total Return: 26.67%
- Exchange: OTC
Zijin Mining is a China-based multinational mining company. It engages in the exploration, mining, and smelting processing of gold, copper, zinc, and other metal mineral resources. The company also conducts metal trading and investment businesses globally.
7. Aluminum Corporation of China Ltd.(ACHHY)
- Revenue (TTM): $32.00 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $943.23 million
- Market Cap: $15.01 billion
- 1-Year Total Return: 43.55%
- Exchange: OTC
Aluminum Corporation of China is a China-based manufacturer of aluminum products. The company produces aluminum ores, aluminum, bauxite, coal, and other products. It also operates an energy segment that engages in power generation, including conventional coal-fired power generation and renewable energy generation such as wind power and photovoltaic power.
8. Anglo American PLC(AAUKF)
- Revenue (TTM): $29.54 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $-1.66 billion
- Market Cap: $38.87 billion
- 1-Year Total Return: 14.23%
- Exchange: OTC
Anglo American is a U.K.-based mining company. It engages in the exploration and mining of precious metals, base metals, and ferrous metals. The company produces iron ore, manganese, metallurgical coal, copper, nickel, platinum, and diamonds. It has operations throughout the world.
9. Hindalco Industries Ltd. (HNDNF)
- Revenue (TTM): $26.47 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $1.30 billion
- Market Cap: $18.36 billion
- 1-Year Total Return: 44.64%
- Exchange: OTC
Hindalco Industries is based in Mumbai, India, and is part of the Aditya Birla Group. The company is a producer and seller of aluminum and copper products with a customer base in India and abroad. The company's subsidiary, Novelis, acquired U.S.-based Aleris Corporation in 2020, which put it among the world's top producers of flat-rolled products.
10. CMOC Group Ltd. (CMCLF)
- Revenue (TTM): $25.68 billion
- Net Income (TTM): $1.38 billion
- Market Cap: $22.08 billion
- 1-Year Total Return: 37.83%
- Exchange: OTC
Known previously as China Molybdenum Company, CMOC Group operates in mainland China. The company's main business lies in the non-ferrous metals industry. It deals primarily in the mining and processing of base and rare metals. It has a presence in Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and South America.
What Are the Big 4 Mining Companies?
The big four mining companies in terms of revenue are
- Glencore
- Jiangxi
- BHP
- Rio Tinto.
What Is the Richest Gold Mine in the World?
The richest mine in the world is the Nevada Gold Mines, located in the U.S., with production of 3,311,000 ounces, and 2.9% of global gold production.
How Do I Invest in the Mining Sector?
To invest in the mining sector, you can purchase the stocks of mining companies. You can also invest in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the mining sector.
The Bottom Line
The mining sector plays an essential role in the global economy, mining the earth for metals and minerals used in everyday consumer and industrial products. The most prominent mining companies, which are mainly based in China, Switzerland, Brazil, the U.K., and Australia, are leaders in the extraction and processing of base and precious metals.
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