Salient Copper Statistics

This table presents comprehensive data on copper production, consumption, trade, and pricing in the United States and globally from 2017 through 2021. It includes detailed metrics such as mine production volumes, smelter and refinery outputs, secondary production from scrap, and closing stocks. The data also covers economic indicators like the total value of copper production and average annual copper prices. This information is crucial for understanding the copper industry's role in the economy, as copper is a key industrial metal used extensively in electrical wiring, construction, transportation, and manufacturing. Tracking these statistics helps policymakers, industry stakeholders, and analysts assess supply-demand dynamics, market trends, and the health of the domestic and global copper markets.

Analyzing the data reveals several notable trends from 2017 to 2021. U.S. mine production fluctuated, with recoverable copper totaling 1.23 million metric tons in 2021, slightly up from 1.20 million tons in 2020 but below the 1.26 million tons seen in 2019. Arizona remains the dominant copper-producing state, contributing 868,000 metric tons in 2021, consistent with prior years. The total value of U.S. copper production surged to $11.7 billion in 2021, a significant increase from $7.6 billion in 2020, driven largely by a sharp rise in the average U.S. producer cathode price from about 287 cents per pound in 2020 to 432 cents in 2021. Refinery production also rebounded in 2021 to 922,000 metric tons after a dip in 2020. On the global stage, mine production steadily increased, reaching 21.2 million metric tons in 2021, while refinery output rose to 25.3 million metric tons. Imports of refined copper into the U.S. jumped to 919,000 metric tons in 2021, reflecting strong domestic demand, which is supported by an apparent consumption increase to 1.95 million metric tons. These figures highlight a recovering copper market with rising prices and production following the disruptions of 2020.