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Mining is one of the world's oldest industries. It mainly includes the exploration, production, and processing of metals and minerals located in the Earth’s crust. Metals and minerals are essential for many other industries.
The mining industry will play an important role in facilitating the global clean energy transition, as minerals are an integral component of renewable energy technologies.
Mining industry revenue has remained relatively stable over the past decade
As of 2022, the combined revenue of the top 40 global mining companies amounted to 943 billion U.S. dollars. That was the highest revenue ever recorded by the industry, and a notable rise from the revenue in 2010, which was less than half that amount.
Latin America's mining industry
Iron ore and potash are among the largest produced mineral commodities based on volume
The most exploited commodities worldwide based on production volume are coal, iron ore, bauxite, and potash. While comparing the production and consumption volume of one mineral to another does not necessarily make sense due to vastly differing end-use contexts, it is nevertheless an interesting comparison to make. In terms of revenue, iron ore and copper are the most profitable segments of many of the world's leading diversified mining companies.
Iron ore mining industry worldwide
Coal mining industry worldwide
Copper mining industry worldwide
"Smart mining" is a great opportunity and challenge
The future is here, and the adoption of technology and automation in the global mining industry for enhanced safety, productivity, and cost reduction is slowly but surely occurring. With the market value of smart mining expected to exceed 34 billion U.S. dollars worldwide by 2028, the industry is evidently moving towards these new processes. Indeed, the global mining industry is expected to have an adoption rate of 75 percent for asset cyber security and 20 percent for smart sensors in 2025.
Concern about cyber attacks on mining companies
Smart mining technology adaption rates
Established multinational miners lead the global mining industry
Several well-established multinational mining companies consistently lead the global mining industry based on annual revenue. The Swiss-headquartered Glencore is the world's largest mining company of all, with annual revenue amounting to 256 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. In 2020, the company's revenue hit its lowest point in a decade, to 142 billion U.S. dollars, which highlights the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on mining activity and mineral commodity prices.
The mining, metals, and minerals category provides information about the mining industry, and by extension, about mineral and metal commodities. Statista's coverage of these topics spans from the exploration, reserves, and production of minerals and metals, to the consumption and end-uses of these products. Trade data, prices, major producing regions, and mining companies are also covered.
Source: statista
