According to SMM statistics, the copper production of the world's top 20 mining companies in the third quarter of 2025 was 3,455 kt, a decrease of 4.1% quarter-on-quarter and 6.5% year-on-year. The copper output of individual mining companies saw a significant decline in the third quarter, due to a sharp increase in production-side disruptions in the first three quarters. The following mining companies' Q3 production is particularly noteworthy:
Freeport-McMoRan
Freeport-McMoRan's copper production in Q3 2025 was 413.7 kt, down 5.3% quarter-on-quarter and 13.2% year-on-year. This was mainly due to the suspension of operations at PT FI following a mudslide incident in September 2025 and lower ore grades at the Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia.
Regarding the Grasberg mine: Approximately 800,000 tonnes of wet material suddenly flowed from the open pit into the underground caving mine, rapidly spreading to multiple working levels, including a logistics level, where the bodies of seven team members were subsequently found.
Following the incident, PT FI immediately suspended mining operations, prioritized the search and recovery of the seven deceased team members, and initiated a root cause investigation. The search and rescue work was completed on October 5, 2025, and the accident investigation is also nearing completion. Damage assessment and debris removal operations are currently underway simultaneously. All cleanup work is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Since the accident, the two smelters – PT Amman and Manyar – are currently on standby awaiting copper concentrate supply.
Codelco
Codelco's copper production in Q3 2025 was 248 kt, down 32.1% quarter-on-quarter and 31.1% year-on-year. Production was reduced due to a rock burst accident at El Teniente in July which resulted in the deaths of six workers. Codelco is currently implementing a safe return-to-work plan. Codelco expects its 2025 copper production to be 1,310-1,340 kt.
Grupo Mexico
Grupo Mexico's copper production in Q3 2025 was 265.4 kt, up 11.1% quarter-on-quarter but down 5.5% year-on-year. The production decrease was primarily due to lower ore grades at mines in Mexico and Peru. Meanwhile, the company prioritized production of silver and molybdenum and continued to optimize the mining plans for silver, molybdenum, and zinc to maximize economic benefits.
First Quantum
First Quantum's copper production in Q3 2025 was 104.6 kt, up 14.9% quarter-on-quarter but down 9.9% year-on-year. First Quantum's 2025 copper production target is 390-410 kt.
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Kansanshi S3 Expansion: Accelerated progress is driving expected growth in copper and gold production in Q4 2025. The 2025 copper production target for Kansanshi is 175-185 kt.
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Sentinel: The relocation of the in-pit crusher #2 has been completed and it is expected to be operational in Q4 2025. The company is collaborating with the equipment manufacturer to address daily maintenance requirements related to bolt fatigue. Ore grades in Q4 2025 are expected to be relatively higher compared to Q3. The Phase 3 transition will gradually shift towards mining a higher proportion of primary sulphide ore. The 2025 copper production target for Sentinel is 190-200 kt.
MMG
MMG's copper production in Q3 2025 was 127 kt, down 9.3% quarter-on-quarter but up 10.7% year-on-year. MMG's 2025 copper production target is 390-410 kt.
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Las Bambas: Copper-in-concentrate production in Q3 reached 103 kt, a 14% year-on-year increase. Mining activities at the Chalcobamba and Ferrobamba pits remained stable, unaffected by external factors. Ore treatment grades and recovery rates continued to remain high.
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Kinsevere: Produced 15 kt of cathode copper in Q3, a 14% year-on-year increase, mainly due to the continued ramp-up of the sulphide ore processing system, part of the Kinsevere Expansion Project. However, power supply availability and stability issues in Q3 affected operational continuity. Kinsevere is procuring additional diesel generators to mitigate power supply issues and is also studying solar and battery storage solutions to further address power shortages and frequent outages.
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Khoemacau: Copper production in Q3 was 9 kt, down 16% year-on-year, primarily due to lower tonnes mined and lower grades.
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto's copper production in Q3 2025 was 204 kt, down 10.9% quarter-on-quarter but up 10.1% year-on-year. Rio Tinto's 2025 copper production target remains unchanged.
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Kennecott: Produced 13 kt of copper in Q3 2025, down 67% quarter-on-quarter and 69% year-on-year, due to planned annual maintenance shutdowns. The concentrator and smelter were largely shut down for maintenance for most of September. The concentrator's 21-day planned shutdown was successfully completed in September, with maintenance focusing on crushing, conveying, and grinding systems. The smelter's planned 45-day shutdown began in early September.
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Escondida: Copper-in-concentrate production was 88 kt in Q3 2025, up 1% quarter-on-quarter and 9% year-on-year. This benefited from a 13% increase in concentrator throughput due to performance improvements, partially offset by a 6% decrease in head grade (0.94% in Q3 2025 vs. 1.00% in Q3 2024) due to mine sequencing changes. Cathode production was 14 kt in Q3 2025, down 4% quarter-on-quarter but up 18% year-on-year, mainly due to a 115% surge in production during the ramp-up of the Full Salar 1 project.
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Oyu Tolgoi: Produced 89 kt of copper in Q3 2025, up 3% quarter-on-quarter and 78% year-on-year. The production increase was driven by the continued ramp-up of underground mining, with the contribution of high-grade underground ore steadily increasing, supported by the surface conveyor. High-grade mining sequences in the open pit also contributed. Head grade increased as planned and recoveries improved accordingly. Oyu Tolgoi expects average annual copper production to reach approximately 500 kt between 2028 and 2036.
Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe's copper production in Q3 2025 was 71.2 kt, down 36.4% quarter-on-quarter and 38.8% year-on-year. Ivanhoe's 2025 copper production target remains unchanged.
At the Kamoa-Kakula mine, a sudden release of elastic energy occurred in the central area of the eastern section due to pillar yield, triggering underground strata tremors. Minor tremors continued in the following weeks. All mining operations were suspended and safety checks initiated; all equipment and personnel were evacuated from the underground areas.
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Phase 1: Installation of a temporary dewatering system to stabilize water levels (completed in early June).
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Phase 2: Deployment of four high-capacity submersible pumps (650 L/sec) in existing shafts for dewatering the Kakula Mine's eastern area from the surface (planned for early December completion).
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Phase 3: Repair of existing underground pumping infrastructure to dewater the remaining sections (planned to start in November).
Ivanhoe expects its 2025 copper production target to be 370-420 kt.
