Mining market capitalization has continued to bounce back since the global financial crisis of 2010. Since then, the total year end market capitalization of the top 40 mining companies increased by 26% with larger gains achieved by the smaller companies. Here we will look at the top five biggest mining companies.
Mining operations are categorized into five major categories, namely, oil and gas, coal mining, metal ore mining, nonmetallic mineral mining, and quarrying. The major powers in the mining industry are the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Chile. Over the years, they have become the established leaders in the field of mining and exploration due to their superior methods and technology.
It is also worth noting that the biggest mining companies have diversified their operations to more than just mining minerals. Today, we see companies expanding their activities to vertical integration in order to take control of the entire commodity value chain from coal mining to steel production to power generation. At the same time, the costs are ever increasing across the board. This is due to several factors such as purchase of new and replacement equipment. The cost of haul trucks alone has increased threefold. The companies listed here are based from the listing released by Mining Technology. They are ranked according to their revenues.
Headquartered in Switzerland, the world's largest mining company was created through the merger of Glencore and Xstrata in May 2013, with Glencore Xstrata reported revenues of over $200 billion last year. Its mining operations cover more than 150 mining and metallurgical sites across the globe. Its revenue from metals and minerals including copper, nickel, zinc/lead, alloys, aluminum, and iron ore was more than $64 billion last year.
2. BHP Billiton
Australian mining company BHP Billiton, the second world's largest mining company, made $67.83 billion in 2013. It operates the world's biggest copper mine in the world and owns three of the world's ten biggest coal mines. It also operates the Olympic Dam in Australia, which is a major poly-metallic mine and is the second biggest uranium producing mine in the world.
3. Rio Tinto
With its headquarters in London, British-Australian mining company, Rio Tinto made $54.6 billion last year. It holds 30% interest in Chile's biggest copper mine, Escondida. Likewise, it operates two of the top 10 uranium producing mines in the world. This company is also the second largest iron ore producer in the world.
4. Vale
Brazilian multinational metal and mining firm, Vale recorded $48.9 billion worth of revenues in 2013. It is the world's biggest producer of iron ore and the second biggest miner of nickel. It operates three of the world's biggest iron ore mines, including the biggest Carajas iron ore mine.
Based in London, Anglo American generated $33.6 billion worth of revenue in 2013. Mining activities in South Africa and Chile collared the biggest share of its revenue last year. It holds a significant interest in the Collahuasi and Le Bronces mines in Chile, which is among the world's 10 biggest copper mines.
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