New Major Copper Discoveries Remain Scarce; Late-Stage Assets Drive Growth
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Markit3.51K FollowersFollow5ShareSavePlay(9min)CommentsSummaryMajor copper discoveries in the decade from 2015 to 2024 remain lower in number and size compared to the prior decades, reflecting explorers' growing preference to expand existing mines, with lower allocations and less focus on generative programs, as part of companies' value-driven strategies.Most of the discovered copper volume rise in 2025 comes from the growth of some late-stage assets' reserves and resources.Latin America hosts most of the discovered copper globally; Africa has emerged as a new top hub of copper discoveries in the recent decade.With copper market projections still expecting deficits in the long run, developing these late-stage assets and discoveries is a race against time to fill the gap. SAND555/iStock via Getty Images Our annual analysis of major copper discoveries has identified 258 copper deposits discovered between 1990 and 2024, containing 1.365 billion metric tons of copper in reserves, resources and past production. There was a net gainThis article was written byMarkit3.51K FollowersFollowIHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 key business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world’s leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.