Global Metals and Mining Companies Rankings （US Billion Dollars）

Gold Mining Companies Rankings (US Billion Dollars)

Chinese Metals and Mining Companies Rankings (US Billion Dollars)

Zijin Mining has been ranked 251st on the 2025 Forbes Global 2000 list of the world’s largest public companies, rising 16 spots from last year. Within the global metals and mining sector, Zijin Mining advanced from 5th to 4th place, while maintaining its position as the world’s top gold miner. This achievement underscores the company’s robust growth and resilience across business cycles.

The Forbes ranking, which evaluates companies based on four equally weighted metrics—revenue, profits, assets, and market value, is recognized as one of the most balanced and comprehensive assessments of corporate strength.

In 2024, Zijin Mining achieved record performance, driven by increased production volumes, higher commodity prices, and effective cost management. The company reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of RMB 32.1 billion (US$4.5 billion), ranking 5th among global miners and surging 52% year-on-year, significantly outpacing industry averages. Notably, Zijin Mining has been driving its transition toward green, low-carbon, and sustainable growth based on international ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards. While its production capacity continues to rise, its total carbon emissions declined by 17.96% year-on-year to 6.99 million tonnes in 2024. Its carbon intensity per RMB 10,000 of industrial added value dropped by 34.9% compared to the 2020 baseline, achieving its 2025 target ahead of schedule. 

Rankings among Global Miners

Among the top five global metals and mining companies on the list are BHP (125th), Rio Tinto (135th), Vale (249th), Zijin Mining (251st), and Newmont (318th). Zijin Mining surpassed Vale in both revenue and market cap. Newmont, a major gold miner, entered the top five, while Glencore, which had ranked in the top three for three consecutive years, fell to 8th place. 

In the gold mining sector, Zijin Mining retained its top position, followed by Newmont (318th) and Barrick (542nd). Rising gold prices have propelled gold mining companies up the rankings. Newmont’s significant improvement in profitability and optimized asset portfolio helped it jump 466 spots, surpassing Barrick for the first time in years. Other gold miners, including Agnico Eagle, Gold Fields, and Shandong Gold, also saw substantial ranking improvements of 479, 348, and 398 spots, respectively. 

Zijin Leads Chinese Peers with 30% Profit Share

Among the 10 Chinese metals and mining companies on the list, Zijin Mining maintained its leading position. It accounted for 16% of the group’s total revenue, 30% of their combined profits, and nearly 40% of their total market capitalization.

Forbes noted that while the number of U.S. companies on the list slightly decreased from 621 to 612, the U.S. maintained its dominant lead. China (including companies from Hong Kong and Taiwan) ranked second with 358 companies. By industry, financial institutions dominated the list, with banking, diversified financial services, and insurance being the top three sectors, represented by 328, 134, and 117 companies, respectively. The mining and materials sector had 87 companies on the list.

Translator:Jian   Reviser: Li Yuanxing   Editor-in-Chief: Fa Yuan