Top 10: APAC Mining Companies

Many of the large conglomerates in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region originate from China. For example, China Shenhua Energy founded in 2005, ranks fourth in our list, and is the world's largest coal mining company. 

This shift towards emerging companies, such as Coal India, reflects the continuing need for coal, driven by its continued use for primary energy needs in China, India, and Southeast Asia. Strong demand for metallurgical coal, used in steel production, is also a factor here.

But it is Australia, a world power on the mining stage, that holds the top two sports in this list.

Here, we take a look at some industry heavy hitters in our top 10 APAC mining companies.

10 Mitsubishi Materials Corporation

Country: Japan
Market cap: $2.063b
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation is a Japanese multinational corporation that produces a wide range of metals, materials, and chemicals for various industries. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Mitsubishi Materials is involved in several business segments, including metal products, such as copper and aluminium products, and cement and building materials. The company also has a presence in the resource exploration and development sector, and produces materials for the automotive, electronics, and energy industries, among others.

09 Jiangxi Copper 

Country: China
Market cap: $7.7bn
The largest copper producer in mainland China, the company is engaged in the exploration, mining, smelting, and refining of copper, as well as other related businesses. It was established in 1983 and is based in Jiangxi Province, China. Jiangxi Copper is one of the largest copper producers in China and has operations both domestically and internationally. The company's product portfolio includes copper cathode, copper rod, copper wire, and other copper-related products.

08 Aluminium Corporation of China

Country: China
Market cap: $13bn
Aluminium Corporation of China, also known as Chalco, is a state-owned Chinese company that is one of the largest producers of aluminium in the world. The company was established in 2001 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

The company produces aluminium products, including primary aluminium, aluminium alloy, aluminium sheets, and aluminium foil, among others. The company also has interests in bauxite mining, alumina refining, and energy production, and is involved in various other businesses related to aluminium production.

07 South32 

Country: Australia
Market cap: $14.7bn
South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company based in Perth, Western Australia. It was spun off from mining giant BHP Billiton in 2015 and has operations in Australia, Southern Africa, and South America. The company is involved in the production of a range of commodities, including aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead, and zinc. 

06. Coal India Limited (CIL)

Country: India
Market cap: $16.6bn
CIL is an Indian state-owned company that is primarily involved in the production and sale of coal and related products. The company was established in 1975 and is headquartered in Kolkata, India.

Responsible for producing a large portion of India's coal, the company operates several coal mines throughout the country and is involved in the production, transportation, and sale of coal, as well as the development of coal-based products.

05 China National Gold Group Corporation

Country: China
Market cap: $21.7bn
China National Gold Group Corporation (China National Gold) is a state-owned Chinese company that is involved in the exploration, mining, and production of gold and other minerals. The company was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

China National Gold is one of the largest gold producers in China, and as well as gold exploration, the company is also interested in other mineral resources in several regions, including China, Russia, and Central Asia. 

The company also has interests in gold trading, refining, and processing, as well as the production of gold-based products.

04 China Shenhua Energy Company

Country: China
Market cap: $79.9bn
China Shenhua Energy Company is a state-owned Chinese company that is primarily involved in the production and sale of coal and related products. The company was established in 2004 and is headquartered in Beijing, China.

Shenhua Energy is one of the largest coal producers in the world, as well as being heavily involved in the production of electricity and the development of coal-based chemical products. The company operates mines and production facilities in several countries, including China, Australia, and Mongolia.

03 China Molybdenum

Country: China
Market cap: $119.9bn
China Molybdenum Co Ltd (CMOC) is a Chinese mining company that specialises in the production of molybdenum and other minerals. The company was established in 2006 and is headquartered in Luoyang, China.

CMOC is involved in the exploration, mining, processing, and sale of molybdenum and other minerals, including copper, tungsten, and cobalt. The company operates mines in several countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, and continents, including Asia, South America, and Europe.

02 Rio Tinto

Country: Australian-British
Market cap: $119.9bn
Rio Tinto is a Australian-British multinational mining company headquartered in London, UK, with operations and assets around the world. It was established in 1873 and has a long history of operations in Australia, where it is one of the largest producers of minerals, including iron ore, bauxite, and aluminium.

Rio Tinto is involved in the exploration, mining, and processing of a wide range of minerals, including iron ore, aluminium, copper, diamonds, gold, and uranium. 

01 BHP

Country: Australia
Market cap: $167bn
BHP Group is a multinational mining and resources company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. The company was established in 2001 through the merger of BHP and Billiton, and has a long history of operations in Australia and around the world.BHP has operations in 90 locations across six continents, but is mainly concentrated in Australia and Canada. It mines and processes iron ore, copper, nickel, potash and metallurgical coal. 

In April 2023, BHP took over Oz Minerals in a $9.6 billion deal. In recent weeks, BHP has been making global headlines, with its bids for Anglo American, a deal designed to make BHP the world's biggest copper miner.