The world’s largest consumer of refined copper in 2022 was China. That year, China accounted for 55 percent of the total global copper consumption volume.
What is copper used for?
Copper is a versatile base metal that is vital for different sectors. Copper is commonly used for making electrical wiring. It also used in building construction, producing industrial machinery, transportation vehicles, architectural applications, and fuel gas. It is an important part of connectors, brakes, and wiring.
Production and consumption of refined copper
In 2020, global refined copper consumption reached an estimated 23.4 million metric tons. While China is the largest consumer of refined copper, it is also the largest refined copper producing country. In 2020 China was responsible for nearly 42 percent share of the total global production of refined copper, or over ten million metric tons. Following China was Chile, which produced 2.3 million metric tons of refined copper. In 2020, there was about 20 million metric tons of copper produced in mines worldwide, while global refined copper production amounted to over 23.9 million metric tons.
Distribution of refined copper consumption worldwide in 2022, by region
Characteristic
Share of consumption
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Norilsk Nickel. (June 6, 2023). Distribution of refined copper consumption worldwide in 2022, by region [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 27, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/693466/distribution-of-global-refined-copper-consumption-by-region/
Norilsk Nickel. "Distribution of refined copper consumption worldwide in 2022, by region." Chart. June 6, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/693466/distribution-of-global-refined-copper-consumption-by-region/
Norilsk Nickel. (2023). Distribution of refined copper consumption worldwide in 2022, by region. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/693466/distribution-of-global-refined-copper-consumption-by-region/
Norilsk Nickel. "Distribution of Refined Copper Consumption Worldwide in 2022, by Region." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 Jun 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/693466/distribution-of-global-refined-copper-consumption-by-region/
Norilsk Nickel, Distribution of refined copper consumption worldwide in 2022, by region Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/693466/distribution-of-global-refined-copper-consumption-by-region/ (last visited July 27, 2024)
Distribution of refined copper consumption worldwide in 2022, by region [Graph], Norilsk Nickel, June 6, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/693466/distribution-of-global-refined-copper-consumption-by-region/