Zijin Mining Becomes World’s Third-Largest Mining Company with $103 Billion Valuation
Zijin Mining Surpasses $100 Billion Market Cap to Become Third-Largest Global Miner in 2025
China’s Zijin Mining Group (HKG: 2899) has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the world’s third-largest mining company by market value after surpassing $100 billion for the first time at Thursday’s close.
This achievement places Zijin alongside global industry leaders BHP (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), which closed Thursday with market capitalizations of A$212 billion ($140 billion) and A$169 billion ($111 billion) respectively.
On Thursday, Zijin’s Shanghai-listed shares hit a record high, lifting its market capitalization to 732 billion yuan ($103 billion) and overtaking Glencore (LON: GLEN), which now sits at £39.76 billion ($53 billion).
Strong Commodity Prices Drive Growth
The surge in Zijin’s valuation comes amid record gold prices and copper achieving its strongest year on record, which together accounted for 77% of Zijin’s first-half revenue. In 2025, Zijin’s stock price has more than doubled, buoyed by gold reaching new highs and copper poised for its best year ever in average prices.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Mining Giant
Founded in the 1980s by geologist and current chairman Chen Jinghe, Zijin Mining grew from a small gold mine in southeastern China into a global powerhouse. Today, the company controls or holds majority stakes in hundreds of mining operations worldwide.
Recent expansions include the acquisition of Serbia’s largest copper mine, Kazakhstan’s Raygorodok gold mine (pending), and Ghana’s Akyem gold mine.
Strategic Expansion Through IPO
Zijin is preparing a Hong Kong listing for its international gold business, Zijin Gold International Co., which consolidates all of its gold assets outside China. The initial public offering (IPO), scheduled for next week, aims to raise $3.2 billion, potentially making it the world’s second-largest IPO of 2025.
Zijin expects the spin-off to broaden its financing channels, enhance capital efficiency, and support continued global expansion.
