With Indonesia-based coal-mining company PT Bayan Resources now the world’s 40th largest-listed mining firm by market cap (as at 31 December 2018), the greater Asian region – including Australia and the Middle East – is currently home to almost half of the planet’s 40 biggest players, which collectively pulled in revenues of $683 billion last year according to the latest annual industry report from professional services firm PwC.
Despite growing environmental protests, the revenues at the 40 leading miners rose 8 percent last year, and have jumped significantly from the around $500 billion figure recorded in 2016 – with profits also on the up. Measured in EBITDA terms (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes and Amortisation), profitability climbed by $11 billion to a total of $169 billion in 2018, with that number up from $91 billion less than five years ago.
Currently boasting a combined market cap of $849 billion (as at 30 April), half of the industry’s top financial performers are now based in the pan-Asian/APAC region, with two Australian-origin firms and one from China occupying three out of the top five spots: diversified giants BHP Group and Rio Tinto in at one and two, and coal-miner China Shenhua Energy at fifth. Chinese/Hong Kong companies altogether make up one quarter of the list.
Accounting for around $80 billion of the combined top-40 revenues generated last year, BHP and Rio Tinto (joint-UK/Australian dual-listed companies with their headquarters in Melbourne, the latter shared with a second head office in London), continue to hold the top two spots for market cap, followed by Swiss goliath Glencore and rising Brazilian player Vale which climbed into fourth for 2018 (albeit with stocks down by over 14 percent for YDT).
At fifth, the 2005-founded China Shenhua Energy is now the largest coal-mining enterprise in the world, typifying a shift of the commodity (which in 2018 saw revenues up by 12 percent among the list-leaders on the back of a 21 percent price hike) from traditional to emerging companies. Coal India also features among the top-ten by market cap, while outside of new entry PT Bayan, all of the other straight coal players hail from China (their number increasing to six).
With above average economic growth in China, India and Southeast Asia – all expected to continue using coal for their primary energy needs for the time being – demand for the commodity will endure in the near to medium term according to PwC, yet plateau from around 2023 as renewable energies reshape the energy mix. Still, PwC sounds a warning, not just for coal but all miners, despite a forecast of continued strong operating performances in 2019.
“While they appreciate the efforts to improve operations and engineer superior results, it is clear that investors and other stakeholders are concerned that the industry is lagging when it comes to several factors that have not been a traditional focus of the mining industry,” states the report. “These include dealing with emissions, investing in differentiating technology and digitisation, engaging more proactively with consumers and building brand.”
Largest mining companies
Altogether, the greater Asian region, including Western Asia and the Asia Pacific, occupy 19 places on the list, with one entry from Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabian Mining Company), and five from Australia (South32, Newcrest Mining and Fortescue Metals Group in addition to BHP and Rio Tinto). Outside of Coal India and PT Bayan, and the ten entries from China/Hong Kong, the remaining top-40 Asian mining company was Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining Company.
An overview of the world’s 40 most important mining companies:
BHP Group
Country: Australia/United Kingdom
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
Rio Tinto
Country: Australia/United Kingdom
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
Vale
Country: Brazil
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
Glencore
Country: Switzerland
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
China Shenhua Energy Company
Country: China/Hong Kong
Commodity focus: Coal mining
MMC Norilsk Nickel
Country: Russia
Commodity focus: Nickel mining
Anglo American
Country: UK/South Africa
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
Coal India
Country: India
Commodity focus: Coal mining
Newmont Mining Corporation
Country: United States
Commodity focus: Gold mining
Grupo México
Country: Mexico
Commodity focus:
Barrick Gold
Country: Canada
Commodity focus: Gold mining
Saudi Arabian Mining Company
Country: Saudi Arabia
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
Country: United States
Commodity focus: Copper and gold mining
Teck Resources
Country: Canada
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
South32
Country: Australia
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
Newcrest Mining
Country: Australia
Commodity focus: Gold mining
The Mosaic Company
Country: United States
Commodity focus: Potash mining
China Molybdenum
Country: China/Hong Kong
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
Shaanxi Coal Industry
Country: China/Hong Kong
Commodity focus: Coal mining
Zijin Mining Group
Country: China/Hong Kong
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
Polyus Gold International
Country: United Kingdom
Commodity focus: Gold mining
Alrosa
Country: Russia
Commodity focus: Diamond mining
Antofagasta
Country: United Kingdom
Commodity focus: Copper mining
Agnico-Eagle Mines Group
Country: Canada
Commodity focus: Gold mining
Fortescue Metals Group
Country: Australia
Commodity focus: Iron Ore mining
Shandong Gold Mining Company
Country: China/Hong Kong
Commodity focus: Gold mining
Goldcorp
Country: Canada
Commodity focus: Gold mining
Fresnillo
Country: Mexico
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
China Coal Energy Company
Country: China/Hong Kong
Commodity focus: Coal mining
Sumitomo Metal Mining
Country: Japan
Commodity focus: Diversified mining
Jiangxi Copper Company
Country: China/Hong Kong
Commodity focus: Copper mining
First Quantum Minerals
Country: Canada
Commodity focus: Copper mining
Kirkland Lake Gold
Country: Canada
Commodity focus: Gold mining
Yanzhou Coal mining Company
Country: China/Hong Kong
Commodity focus: Coal mining
AngloGold Ashanti
Country: South Africa
Commodity focus: Gold mining
Polymetal International
Country: Russia/United Kingdom
Commodity focus: Gold mining
Tianqi Lithium Industries
Country: China
Commodity focus: Lithium mining
KGHM Polska Miedz Spólka Akcyjna
Country: Poland
Commodity focus: Copper mining
China Northern Rate Earth Group
Country: China
Commodity focus: Rare Earth mining
PT Bayan Resources
Country: Indonesia
Commodity focus: Coal mining
