Copper Mining in Canada: 11 Facts & Statistics

Copper Mining in Canada: 11 Facts & Statistics

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Copper mining in Canada - Facts and Statistics

Did you know that Canada is a major copper producer, a critical mineral used in a variety of technological applications? Home to more than eight million tonnes of identified reserves, Canada produced more than half a million tonnes of copper concentrate in 2024 – although production has dropped by more than a quarter since 2015.

Below, we explore several facts about Canadian copper mining, including its uses, the largest producing mines in Canada, and other vital information about this critical metal! Also see:

11 Canadian Copper Mining Facts

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#1 - Canadian copper mines produced 514,582 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2024, up from 484,552 tonnes in 2023, and up from 475,898 tonnes in 2020 [1]

#2 – Nearly half of Canada’s copper concentrate production – or 48% – was accounted for by British Columbia in 2024 [1]

#3 – Canada’s exports of copper and copper-based products totalled $10.7 billion in 2024, up from $7.3 billion in 2020 [1]

#4 – Canadian copper production declined 26.2% between 2015 and 2024, falling from 697,322 tonnes to 514,582 tonnes [1]

#5 – Canada is home to one primary copper smelter and refinery in Quebec, and two sites in Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador that produce some refined copper alongside the processing of other metals [1]

#6 – British Columbia is home to Canada’s largest copper mine, Highland Valley, near Logan Lake [1]

#7 – Canada’s top three copper-producing provinces include British Columbia (48%), Quebec (4.5%), and Newfoundland and Labrador (2.5%), while other jurisdictions across Canada account for nearly 45% of Canada’s copper production [1]

#8 – Canada is home to an estimated 8.3 million tonnes of copper, accounting for approximately 1% of the world’s ~1 billion tonnes of reserves [1]

#9 – Canada’s total copper trade (exports and imports), including copper-based products, totalled $17.3 billion [1]

#10 – Canada’s top export markets for copper products in 2024 include the United States, accounting for 56% of the total exported value, with China (19%), Japan (9%), and South Korea (7%), coming in second, third, and fourth [1]

#11 – From 2015 to 2024, copper production in Canada declined 26.2%, falling from 697,322 tonnes to 514,582 tonnes [1]

Top 5 Copper Mines in Canada

Below are Canada’s current and largest producing mines by volume, as of 2023 [2]:

(1) Highland Valley

The Highland Valley Mine is a surface mine in B.C. It produced an estimated 114,000 tonnes of copper in 2023 and is expected to operate until 2040 [2].

(2) Gibraltar Mine

Another B.C. copper mine, Gibraltar, produced approximately 52,160 tonnes of copper in 2023 and will stay in operation until 2045 [2].

(3) Copper Mountain Mine

Copper Mountain is a surface mine in British Columbia, producing roughly 39,920 tonnes of the metal in 2023, with an expected lifespan until 2054 [2]. 

(4) Mount Milligan Mine

Mount Milligan is a surface mine found in British Columbia. It produced an estimated 29,480 tonnes of copper in 2023 and will operate until 2033 [2].

(5) Kidd Creek Mine

The Kid Creek Mine is an underground copper operation in Ontario, producing an estimated 27,200 tonnes of copper in 2023, and is slated to end production by the end of 2026 [2][3]

What is Copper Used For?

what is copper used for - copper electrical wiring

Copper Wiring in High Voltage Electrical Cord

Copper is a soft, malleable metal valued for its exceptional electrical/thermal conductivity, durability, and corrosion resistance. From electronics such as HDTVs, smartphones and data centres, to the wires and pipes required in home construction, copper is used in many everyday applications. Because of its widespread use, copper demand is expected to grow 70% by 2050 [4].

A great example of expected increases in global demand for this critical metal is the amount required to build an electric vehicle. While a typical internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle uses about 23 kg of copper, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) use 40 kg, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) use 60 kg, and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) use 83 kg on average.

The most significant uses of copper globally in 2024 included [1]:

  • Building construction – 26%          
  • Equipment manufacturing – 23%
  • Infrastructure – 17%
  • Transportation – 13%
  • Industrial – 12%
  • Others – 9%

Canada’s Copper Mining Future

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The future of copper mining in Canada is bright. While the industry has seen copper production drop by more than a quarter between 2015 and 2024, new investment is driving operational extensions and supporting new exploratory projects across the country [5]:

  • Canada’s copper mining future is increasingly being driven by a combination of mine-life extensions and new project development across several key regions.
  • In British Columbia, the Highland Valley Copper mine life extension will allow one of the country’s most important copper operations to continue until 2046, helping maintain roughly 132,000 tonnes of annual output into the 2040s.
  • In the Sudbury Basin, a major copper development announced in late 2025 is expected to produce about 880,000 tonnes over a 21-year period, reinforcing the area’s long-term importance to Canadian supply.
  • Saskatchewan is also positioned for growth through the McIlvenna Bay project, which holds probable mineral reserves of 29.7 million tonnes containing approximately 793 million pounds of copper.
  • McIlvenna Bay is expected to begin production by mid-2026, making it one of the more significant near-term additions to Canada’s copper pipeline.
  • The Red Chris Mine in British Columbia is also being considered for a major USD $2.4 billion advancement and has been identified as a potentially nation-building development.

Together, these projects show that Canada’s future copper growth depends on both extending mature operations and bringing new deposits into production. If all come to fruition, they could strengthen Canada’s role in global markets by offering a stable, secure, and democratically produced source of supply for the highly valued and in-demand metal.

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SOURCES:

1 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/mining-data-statistics-analysis/minerals-metals-facts/copper-facts

2 – https://www.mining-technology.com/marketdata/five-largest-copper-mines-canada/

3 – https://www.glencore.ca/en/media-and-insights/insights/kidd-operations-powers-innovation-toward-2026

4 - https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/A-Major-Copper-Crunch-Is-Looming.html

5 - https://theoregongroup.com/commodities/copper/canadas-rise-in-global-copper-supply-chains/