Percentage
of
World total		Average
1916-1917
output
of copper		Country of originEstimated
capacity
output
of copper		Per-
centage
of
world
total		Owned
by
U. S.
capital		Owned
by
British
capital		Owned
by
German
capital		Owned
by
French
capital		Owned
by
Japanese
capital		Owned by
local capital in
producing countries
Western Hemisphere
59.2  868,903United States  928,000 57.5  899,000 29,000
 3.3   49,168Canada   58,000  3.6   28,000 30,000
 3.4   49,478Mexico   65,000  4.0   49,000Idle  2,500plus13,500
 1.0   14,000Cuba   10,000  0.6......  2,000plus... ...8,000
 0.2    2,000Venezuela    2,000  0.1...  2,000
 4.8   70,000Chile  110,000  6.8   86,000  2,500  4,500plus 9,500[105]...7,500
 3.    43,620Peru   45,000  2.8   45,000
 0.4    6,000Bolivia   12,000  0.8    6,000... ...  6,000
75.41,103,169Total Western Hemisphere1,230,000 76.21,113,000 63,500  9,000 29,000 ...15,500
Eastern Hemisphere
 3.2   47,500Africa   58,000  3.6... 58,000[105]... ...
 2.5   36,550Australia   43,000  2.7... 43,000
 7.9  112,900Japan  125,000  7.7...... ... ... 125,000
 2.9   42,000Spain and Portugal   42,000  2.6... 40,000 ... ... ...2,000
 1.3   18,500Russia (estimated)   18,000  1.1...... 18,000(?)
 4.8   71,000Central Powers (estimated)   71,000  4.4...... 71,000
 1.4   19,000Norway   19,000  1.2... 10,000 ... ... ...9,000
 0.1    1,000Sweden    1,000  0.1...... ... ... ...1,000
 0.4    6,250Other countries    6,250  0.4...    250 ...  2,000 ...(3,000) (Italy)
(1,000) (China)
24.6  354,700Total Eastern Hemisphere  383,250 23.8 31,500
World Total1,456,869 1,613,250100  1,113,000212,750 98,000 31,000 125,000
100% 69[106]13.3[106]6.1[106]1.9[106]7.7[106]2.0%, divided as follows: Cuba, 0.5; Spain, 0.1; Norway, 0.6; Sweden, 0.05; Chile, 0.5; China, 0.05; Italy, 0.2

[105] Includes Belgian capital.

[106] Percentage of ownership.

Table 36.—Business Control of the World’s Copper Mines
All figures metric tons

Country
of
origin		Estimated
capacity
output of
refined
copper		Refined
in
the U. S.		Refined
in
British
Dominions		Refined
in
Germany		Refined
in
France		Refined
in
Japan		Refined
in
other
countries		Formerly
sold by
German
houses
Western Hemisphere
United States  928,000   928,000...............( 73,000)
Canada   58,000    28,000 30,000............( 21,000)
Mexico   65,000    52,000......13,000......(  2,500)
Cuba   10,000    10,000...............( 10,000)
Venezuela    2,000     2,000
Chile  110,000    43,000  2,500... 9,500...55,000( 20,000)
Peru   45,000    45,000
Bolivia   12,000     6,000...... 6,000
Total Western Hemisphere1,230,000 1,114,000 32,500     028,500      055,000(134,500)
Percent of total76.2%[107] 692...1.8...3.4
(Chili copper)
(U. S. owned)		(8¹⁄₄%)
Eastern Hemisphere
(or in Belgium)
Africa   58,000     5,000 53,000............(  5,000)
Australia   43,000 ... 43,000............( 43,000)
Japan  125,000     3,000.........122,000
Spain and Portugal (estimated)   42,000     2,000 35,000... 5,000......
Russia (estimated)   18,000 ..................?
Central Powers   71,000?......71,000......18,000?
Norway   19,000 ... 19,000............?
Sweden    1,000 ...  1,000............?
Other Countries    6,250 ...    250... 2,000... 3,000
(Italy)
 1,000
(China)
Total Eastern Hemisphere  383,250    10,000151,25071,000 7,000122,00022,000( 48,000)
Percentage of total23.8   .7 9.34.4 .47.61.4(3%)
Total percentage100% 69.711.34.42.27.64.8(11¹⁄₄%)

[107] The United States controls the sale of substantially all this copper.

Table 37.—Future Importance of Present Copper-producing Countries as Indicated by Known Reserves of Copper Ore, and Capital Controlling These Reserves

Producing
country		Estimated
capacity
output
of copper
(metric tons)		Percentage
of world total		Developed reserves in terms of
years’ life at capacity output		Exten-
sion[108]		Percentage
of
total
reserves
of world
Owned by
U. S.
capital		Owned by
British
capital		Owned by
German
capital		Owned by
French
capital		Owned by
Japanese
capital		Owned by
local capital
in producing
countries
W. Hemisphere:
United States  928,000 57.512.4yrs.12.4 yrs.............  713  34.
Canada   58,000  3.615   20 ............   63.33.
Mexico   65,000  4.05   largelarge6 yrs.......   20.81.15
Cuba and Venezuela   12,000  0.7... ...3 yrs.......3 yrs.    2.10.10
Chile  110,000  6.8150   3 ?5 ...consider-
able		  795.837.9[109]
Peru   45,000  2.84   ............    11.20.55
Bolivia   12,000  0.8... ......4  ......    2.80.10
Total1,230,000 76.2... ...............1,609.0
Percentage total reserves... 76.873.6 2.40.10.4... 0.3 ...76.8
Eastern Hemisphere:
Africa   58,000  3.6... 66[110]............  237.611.3
Australia   43,000  2.7... 7.2............   20  0.95
Japan  125,000  7.7... .........6  ...   46.22.2
Spain and Portugal   42,000  2.6... 50 .........50     130  6.2
Russia   18,000  1.1... 18(?)18(?)......18      19.80.95
Central Powers   71,000  4.4... ...?......?   20  0.95
Norway   19,000  1.2... 10 .........10      12  0.55
Sweden    1,000  0.1... ............10       1  0.04
Other countries    6,250  0.4... ............?    1.40.06
Total  383,250 23.8... ...............  488.0
Percentage total reserves... 23.2... 18.40.95...2.2 1.65...23.2
World total1,613,250100  ... ...............2,097.0
Percentage of world total reserves......73.6 20.81.050.42.2 1.95...100

[108] Extension is the product of “Percentage of World Total” and “Developed Reserves in Terms of Years Life,” and gives total ultimate relative importance of different countries.

[109] In so far as it affects production this high figure must be discounted because of the large reserves being compact, the distance from market and the unfavorable mining conditions of a thinly settled country.