Copper, aluminium, zinc, lead, silver and tin side by side: production, China’s share, recycling, uses, properties and Poland’s position – with the source and year next to every figure.
The same indicators for selected metals side by side – from the same data as the profiles, with the source and year next to every figure.
Mine production, for aluminium – primary production. Logarithmic scale: each step in bar length is a multiple.
China's share of world mine production, for aluminium – of primary production; calculated from the country tables in the profiles.
Sources use different definitions – each metal shows what the indicator measures.
Share of the largest use in total use of the metal.
Mass of one cubic centimetre of the metal at room temperature.
The lower it is, the less energy remelting and recycling require.
Main uses linked to electrification and renewable energy.
Power grids, cables, motors and electric vehicles – the metal of electrification.
Lightweight vehicle structures, solar panel frames and overhead transmission lines.
Corrosion protection of steel structures for wind and solar farms and infrastructure.
Lead-acid batteries: vehicle starting, back-up power for data centres and telecoms.
Silver paste in photovoltaic cells – about 29% of industrial demand (2024).
Solder joining circuits in electronics and photovoltaic cells.
Poland's position according to the profile data.
Mine output of about 410 kt, reserves of about 34 Mt (USGS) – KGHM Polska Miedź.
No primary aluminium production; processing and recycling.
Zinc smelting and recycling; the Polish group holds about 7% of the EU market.
Refined lead production of 145 kt (2025) – 14th in the world, 4th in the EU.
KGHM produces about 1,341 t of silver a year (2024) – among the world's leaders.
No mining; tin used in processing (solder, alloys, chemicals).
The figures come from the knowledge base facts file and the profile tables (ICSG, ILZSG, USGS, IAI, IZA, International Lead Association, The Silver Institute, International Tin Association). China's share is calculated from the profile country tables; the recycling indicators have different definitions and years – compare them with care.
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