Chile - Critical Mineral Production & Reserves
Statistical profile of Chile's critical mineral output across 5 quantified mineral chapters in the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries (2020-2026). Chile holds 2 #1 global production ranks and 4 top-three global production ranks.
Chile Critical Mineral Production & World Shares (2020-2025)
| Mineral & Stage | Unit | 2020 | 2022 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhenium Mine production | kilograms | 30,000 | 29,000 | 29,000 | 30,000 | 37.0% | #1 |
| Copper Mine production | thousand metric tons | 5,730 | 5,330 | 5,510 | 5,300 | 23.0% | #1 |
| Lithium Mine production | metric tons | 21,500 | 38,000 | 48,900 | 56,000 | 19.3% | #3 |
| Copper Refinery production | thousand metric tons | 5,730 | 5,330 | 5,510 | 1,700 | 5.9% | #3 |
| Silver Mine production | metric tons | 1,580 | 1,274 | 1,200 | 1,400 | 5.4% | #5 |
| Potash Mine production | thousand metric tons | 900 | 600 | 564 | 600 | 1.2% | #9 |
Chile Reported Critical Mineral Reserves (2025)
| Mineral & Reserve Basis | Unit | Reported Reserves | Share of World Reserves | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium Reserves | metric tons | 9,200,000 | 24.9% | #1 |
| Copper Reserves | thousand metric tons | 180,000 | 18.4% | #1 |
| Silver Reserves | metric tons | 33,000 | 5.4% | #7 |
| Potash Reserves: K2O equivalent | thousand metric tons | 100,000 | - | #8 |
| Rhenium Reserves | kilograms | 1,300,000 | - | #1 |
Frequently Asked Questions - Chile
Which critical minerals does Chile lead in global production?
Among the 2026 USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries country tables, Chile ranks in the global top three for 4 production measures (#1 in 2), including Rhenium (mine production, rank #1, 37.0% of world total), Copper (mine production, rank #1, 23.0% of world total), Lithium (mine production, rank #3, 19.3% of world total), Copper (refinery production, rank #3, 5.9% of world total).
What critical mineral reserves are reported for Chile?
Quantified reserve estimates reported for Chile in the 2026 USGS release include Copper (180,000 thousand metric tons), Lithium (9,200,000 metric tons), Potash (100,000 thousand metric tons), Rhenium (1,300,000 kilograms), Silver (33,000 metric tons). Reserve definitions and assessment dates vary across reporting jurisdictions.
For which critical minerals is Chile a major import source to the United States?
In USGS 2021-24 US import-source statistics, Chile is a reported supplier across 6 tracked import categories, led by Copper (Refined copper: 68%), Lithium (All: 54%), Rhenium (Rhenium metal: 38%), Rhenium (Total imports: 31%).