Chile Critical Minerals
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Chile mined an estimated 5,300 kt of copper in 2025 (23% of the world, first), 68% of the world's iodine and 37% of its rhenium, and ranked third in lithium with 56,000 t (19%), according to USGS. On 27 December 2025 Codelco and SQM created the NovaAndino Litio joint venture for the Salar de Atacama, with majority state participation and a term to 2060, which fixes the state at the centre of Chilean lithium.
23%
of world copper mine production came from Chile in 2025, the largest share of any country
68%
of world iodine production came from Chile in 2025, and 37% of rhenium
19%
of world lithium mine production came from Chile in 2025, the third largest share
2060
end of the term of the Codelco and SQM NovaAndino Litio venture for the Salar de Atacama, announced on 27 December 2025
Source: Codelco
Which critical minerals does Chile produce?
The table shows where Chile ranks in USGS estimates of 2025 world production. Chile leads in copper, iodine and rhenium and is a top-three producer of lithium and molybdenum.
| Mineral | 2025 production (USGS estimate) | Share of world | Rank | Reserves (share of world) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iodine | 23,000 t of elemental iodine | 68% | 1 of 8 | 750,000 t |
| Rhenium | 30,000 kg | 37% | 1 of 9 | not reported |
| Copper | 5,300 kt of copper content | 23% | 1 of 17 | 180,000 kt (18%) |
| Lithium | 56,000 t of lithium content | 19% | 3 of 10 | 9,200,000 t (25%) |
| Molybdenum | 42,000 t of molybdenum content | 16% | 2 of 15 | 2,600 t (15%) |
| Silver | 1,400 t of silver content | 5.4% | 5 of 14 | 33,000 t (5.4%) |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 chapters. Shares are calculated by this site from the USGS country figure and the larger of the USGS world total and the sum of the country figures, because USGS rounds the world total. Units differ by row. Rank is among the countries named in each USGS table. Rhenium is a by-product of copper-molybdenum mining.
What is the state's role in Chilean lithium?
Chile's approach is state participation rather than an export ban. The table gives the measures with their dates and sources.
| Item | What it is | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| National lithium strategy | Places state-owned Codelco at the centre of lithium development in strategic salt flats, as described in the Codelco and SQM announcement | Referred to in December 2025 release | Codelco |
| NovaAndino Litio | Joint venture of Codelco and SQM for exploration, extraction, production and commercialisation of lithium in the Salar de Atacama, with majority state participation and a term to 2060 | 27 December 2025 | Codelco |
| SQM lithium sales | Nova Andino Litio sold 233.1 thousand metric tons in 2025 against 204.9 thousand in 2024; revenue of $2,138.7 million from lithium and derivatives | Year to 31 December 2025 | SQM Form 6-K |
The release names majority state participation without giving percentages in the text read for this page. The sales are reported by SQM in product tonnes, so they are not comparable with USGS lithium-content tonnes.
Why does Chile matter beyond lithium?
Chile's copper output is more than a fifth of the world's and the country is the world's largest producer of rhenium, a by-product of copper-molybdenum mining, and of iodine. USGS ranks Chile second in molybdenum with 42,000 t. The profile of the copper-molybdenum-rhenium chain is on the rhenium page, and the resource nationalism page sets Chile's model beside export bans and quotas.
How does Chile compare with Argentina and Bolivia?
The three Lithium Triangle countries use different models. Chile keeps lithium under state-led partnerships, Argentina offers large investors a 30-year stability regime and Bolivia restricts extraction to the state company. USGS reports Chile's lithium reserves at 9,200,000 tonnes, about 25% of the world's.
Frequently asked questions
What does Chile produce most of?
Chile is the world's largest producer of copper (23% of 2025 output), iodine (68%) and rhenium (37%) by USGS estimates, and the third largest producer of lithium.
What is NovaAndino Litio?
NovaAndino Litio is the joint venture of Codelco and SQM announced on 27 December 2025 to produce lithium in the Salar de Atacama until 2060, with majority state participation.
Does Chile ban lithium exports?
No. Chile uses state participation rather than an export ban: Codelco holds the majority in the NovaAndino Litio venture, and SQM reported lithium sales of 233.1 thousand metric tons in 2025.
How much lithium does Chile have?
USGS lists Chile's lithium reserves at 9,200,000 tonnes of lithium content, about 25% of the world's 37 million tonnes, and estimates 2025 production at 56,000 t.
Sources
Read on October 13, 2026. Figures on this page come from these documents; where a number is an estimate, the source says so.
