To seize the burgeoning demand for copper, BHP recently initiated a bid for Anglo American. Should the merger materialize, the combined entity would emerge as the world's largest copper producer, as evidenced by their aggregate 2023 full-year production figures (see chart below):
Here's an in-depth look at both companies to give you an idea of what the merged entity would entail.
Anglo American overview:
Besides copper Anglo is big producer of iron ore, steelmaking coal, diamonds and platinum group metals (PGMs). They are the world's largest producer of PGMs and one of the largest producers of iron ore and steelmaking coal. Anglo American operates several large mines globally across various commodities. Some of its largest mines include:
Venetia Diamond Mine (South Africa): Located in the Limpopo Province, Venetia is one of South Africa's largest diamond mines, producing both rough and polished diamonds.
Mogalakwena Platinum Mine (South Africa): Situated in the Limpopo Province, Mogalakwena is one of the world's largest open-pit platinum mines, known for its significant reserves and production output.
Los Bronces Copper Mine (Chile): Located in the Andes Mountains near Santiago, Los Bronces is one of Chile's largest copper mines, producing copper concentrate and molybdenum.
Collahuasi Copper Mine (Chile): Situated in northern Chile, Collahuasi is one of the world's largest copper mines, jointly owned by Anglo American and other mining companies.
Quellaveco Copper Project (Peru): Under development in the Moquegua region, Quellaveco is a large-scale copper project with significant reserves and potential for future production.
Kumba Iron Ore Mines (South Africa): Kumba operates several iron ore mines in the Northern Cape Province, including the Sishen and Kolomela mines, which are among the largest iron ore operations in South Africa.
See our summary of the company below:
BHP Group overview:
In 2023 BHP was the second largest producer of copper in the world, producing 1,716,000 ton. They are also one of the largest producers of iron ore, coal and nickel. BHP Group operates numerous large mines globally. Some of its largest mines include:
Escondida Copper Mine (Chile): Located in the Atacama Desert, Escondida is the world's largest copper mine by production. BHP holds a significant stake in this operation, which produces copper concentrate and cathodes.
Olympic Dam Mine (Australia): Situated in South Australia, Olympic Dam is one of the world's largest known uranium and copper deposits. In addition to uranium and copper, it also produces gold, silver, and other minerals.
Western Australia Iron Ore Operations (Australia): BHP operates several iron ore mines in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including the Mt Whaleback, Jimblebar, and Yandi mines. These operations collectively form one of the world's largest iron ore producing systems.
Mt Arthur Coal Mine (Australia): Located in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Mt Arthur is one of the largest coal mines in Australia, producing thermal coal for export.
Spence Copper Mine (Chile): Situated in the Atacama Desert, Spence is an open-pit copper mine that produces copper cathodes and concentrates.
Cerro Colorado Copper Mine (Chile): Located in northern Chile, Cerro Colorado is an open-pit copper mine that produces copper cathodes.
See our summary of the company below:
