What Does the Possible Rio Tinto-Glencore Merger Mean for the Mining Sector?

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Written by Amir Richani for IIR News (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

The Rio Tinto-Glencore merger could create one of the world's largest miners, with assets ranging from mines to smelters, downstream processing, and recycling facilities.

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What Does This Mean?

The merger would create the world's largest mining company. Glencore (Baar, Switzerland) is one of the world's largest copper producers, with 2024's output at 951,600 tons, and owns mines such as Collahuasi in Chile and Antamina in Peru, both among the world's top 10 producing mines.

In addition to copper, Glencore produces coal, cobalt, zinc, lead, nickel, gold, silver, and more.

For 2025, Glencore provided guidance of 850,000-875,000 tons of copper, 41,000-43,000 tons of cobalt, 950,000-975,000 tons of zinc, and 70,000-72,000 tons of nickel.

Meanwhile, Rio Tinto (London, England) is one of the top three iron ore producers worldwide, with 2024 production of 328 million tons and 2025 production guidance of 323-338 million tons. This is due to volumes from its Yandicoogina and Tom Price iron ore mines in Australia, which are among the world's largest.

The company is also one of the world's largest copper producers, with production guidance of 860,000-875,000 tons for 2025 and 800,000-870,000 tons for 2026. Rio Tinto holds a 30% stake at the Escondida mine in Chile, the world's largest copper mine, as well a 66% stake at the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia.

In addition to those commodities, Rio Tinto produces bauxite, aluminium, lithium, and others. In terms of lithium, the company has become a major producer following the Arcadium acquisition in 2025, which added operational assets in Argentina, including Olaroz and Salar del Hombre Muerto.

According to the Financial Times, a combined mining firm would have an enterprise value exceeding US$260 billion.

Based on Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI), the two companies own more than 380 assets worldwide, spanning mining, smelting, downstream processing, and recycling of more than 60 commodities, including aluminium, iron ore, cobalt, nickel, zinc, copper, borates, lithium, scandium, diamonds, salt, ferroalloys, and titanium dioxide.

Upcoming Expansions

Far from remaining stagnant, both companies have already set major plans to continue their expansions. Industrial Info is tracking 468 projects across both companies worldwide, totaling US$57.42 billion, including mine expansions, new assets, upgrades, and more.

In recent months, Glencore has focused on developing its copper assets in Argentina. The company owns the El Pachon and Agua Rica projects, which have yet to begin construction, but could add hundreds of thousands of tons of copper to its production over the next decade.

In addition to Rio Tinto's copper and iron ore production developments, such as its Simandou iron ore mine in Guinea and Nuevo Cobre copper project in Chile, the company has committed to becoming a leading lithium producer.

In 2025, the miner announced partnerships with Codelco (Santiago, Chile) and Enami (Santiago) to develop the Chilean Altoandinos and Maricunga salt flats, and it reported on its efforts to move forward with the Rincon lithium project in Argentina.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project and Plant databases can click here for a list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of all of the article's related plant profiles.

Market Moves

The merger announcement follows Anglo American plc (London) and Teck Resources Limited's (Vancouver, British Columbia) agreement to combine into Anglo Teck Group, forming another major mining company with assets worldwide.

Copper prices have reached new highs in January amid operational disruptions and geopolitical tensions.

Key Takeaways

• The merger would create one of the world's largest mining companies.
• Industrial Info is tracking 468 projects owned by the companies, worth US$57.42 billion.
• Industrial Info is tracking 380 assets owned by Rio Tinto and Glencore worldwide.

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About IIR News
IIR News is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resource's Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).