Wen Hua Cai Jing·2026-01-10 11:43Core Viewpoint - Rio Tinto and Glencore are in preliminary talks for a potential mega-merger, aiming to create a diversified mining giant amid rising demand for key minerals [2] Group 1: Company Overview - Rio Tinto confirmed the possibility of merging part or all of its business with Glencore, with a deadline to submit a formal offer by February 5 [2] - Rio Tinto is a major iron ore producer, expected to produce 298.1 million tons in 2024, accounting for 12% of global supply [3] - Rio Tinto ranks seventh in global copper production with an output of 649,720 tons in 2024 [4] - Glencore is the fourth-largest copper producer, with an estimated production of around 1 million tons in 2024 [6] - Glencore is also a significant producer of cobalt, ranking second globally with a production of 32,712 tons in 2024 [7] Group 2: Market Position and Synergies - The merger would position the combined entity as a leader in the global copper market, with a total copper output of approximately 1.7 million tons in 2024, surpassing BHP and Codelco [9] - Rio Tinto holds a 30% stake in the Escondida mine, the largest copper mine globally, which is expected to produce 5.5% of the world's copper in 2024 [9] - Glencore owns 44% of the Collahuasi mine, the third-largest copper mine in 2024 [9] Group 3: Copper Market Outlook - The potential merger coincides with a growing global demand for copper, projected to reach a supply gap of 10 million tons by 2040, with demand increasing by 50% to 42 million tons [10] - The copper market is experiencing tight conditions, as indicated by the recent surge in copper prices, with LME copper reaching a high of $13,240.98 per ton on January 6 [12]