# Compare metals

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.

Choose metals (2–6) **Cu** Copper **Al** Aluminium **Zn** Zinc **Pb** Lead **Ag** Silver **Sn** Tin

## World production

Mine production, for aluminium – primary production. Logarithmic scale: each step in bar length is a multiple.

- **Cu** Copper 23.2 Mt ICSG · 2025
- **Al** Aluminium ~74.0 Mt IAI · 2025
- **Zn** Zinc ~12.6 Mt ILZSG · 2025
- **Pb** Lead ~4.5 Mt ILZSG · 2025
- **Ag** Silver ~25,500 t Silver Institute · 2024
- **Sn** Tin ~300 kt USGS · 2024

## China's share

China's share of world mine production, for aluminium – of primary production; calculated from the country tables in the profiles.

- **Cu** Copper ~8% USGS · 2024 largest producer: Chile, about 23%
- **Al** Aluminium ~60% IAI · 2025
- **Zn** Zinc ~32% ILZSG · 2025
- **Pb** Lead ~44% ILZSG · 2025
- **Ag** Silver ~13% Silver Institute · 2024 largest producer: Mexico, about 25%
- **Sn** Tin ~23% USGS · 2024

## Share of secondary materials

Sources use different definitions – each metal shows what the indicator measures.

- **Cu** Copper ~34% ICSG · 2025 RIR – scrap share of use
- **Al** Aluminium ~32% IAI · 2018 RIR – scrap share of use
- **Zn** Zinc ~30% IZA recycled share of zinc use
- **Pb** Lead ~70% ILA secondary production share of supply
- **Ag** Silver ~19% Silver Institute · 2024 recycling share of supply (with mine output)
- **Sn** Tin ~34% 2023 RIR – scrap share of use

## Largest use

Share of the largest use in total use of the metal.

- **Cu** building construction 25% IWCC · 2025
- **Al** transport and construction – the two largest sectors; no consistent annual share in primary sources
- **Zn** galvanizing ~60% ILZSG/IZA
- **Pb** lead-acid batteries ~87% ILZSG
- **Ag** industrial uses ~58% Silver Institute · 2024
- **Sn** solder ~51% ITA

## Density

Mass of one cubic centimetre of the metal at room temperature.

- **Cu** Copper 8.96 g/cm³ physical property
- **Al** Aluminium 2.70 g/cm³ physical property
- **Zn** Zinc 7.14 g/cm³ physical property
- **Pb** Lead 11.34 g/cm³ physical property
- **Ag** Silver 10.49 g/cm³ physical property
- **Sn** Tin 7.29 g/cm³ physical property

## Melting point

The lower it is, the less energy remelting and recycling require.

- **Cu** Copper ~1,083 °C physical property
- **Al** Aluminium 660 °C physical property
- **Zn** Zinc 419.5 °C physical property
- **Pb** Lead 327.4 °C physical property
- **Ag** Silver 961.8 °C physical property
- **Sn** Tin 231.9 °C physical property

## Role in the energy transition

Main uses linked to electrification and renewable energy.

- **Cu** Copper Power grids, cables, motors and electric vehicles – the metal of electrification.
- **Al** Aluminium Lightweight vehicle structures, solar panel frames and overhead transmission lines.
- **Zn** Zinc Corrosion protection of steel structures for wind and solar farms and infrastructure.
- **Pb** Lead Lead-acid batteries: vehicle starting, back-up power for data centres and telecoms.
- **Ag** Silver Silver paste in photovoltaic cells – about 29% of industrial demand (2024).
- **Sn** Tin Solder joining circuits in electronics and photovoltaic cells.

## Poland

Poland's position according to the profile data.

- **Cu** Copper Mine output of about 410 kt, reserves of about 34 Mt (USGS) – KGHM Polska Miedź.
- **Al** Aluminium No primary aluminium production; processing and recycling.
- **Zn** Zinc Zinc smelting and recycling; the Polish group holds about 7% of the EU market.
- **Pb** Lead Refined lead production of 145 kt (2025) – 14th in the world, 4th in the EU.
- **Ag** Silver KGHM produces about 1,341 t of silver a year (2024) – among the world's leaders.
- **Sn** Tin No mining; tin used in processing (solder, alloys, chemicals).

Copy link to this selection

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.

## Get access to the Chamber's analyses

[Become a member](https://igmnir.org/en/contact/)

---

Page as of: 02.11.2026. IGMNiR. On the website: https://igmnir.org/en/knowledge/compare/