Metals & Mineral Resources Division

Materials GroupMetals & Mineral Resources Division

Major Products and Areas

Development of iron ore, coking coal, and copper mines
Smelting and refining of aluminum
Trading of steel and steelmaking raw materials, ferroalloys, and cement-related materials
Trading of non-ferrous metals, ingots, metals for batteries, and related products
Steel product trading and business investment
Recycling and reuse of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and metals for batteries
Development and promotion of CCS (Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage) businesses

Our Strengths

Building a Sustainable Value Chain

Marubeni is dedicated to promoting business with leading partners in the copper, aluminum, and steel fields, which are indispensable for economic development and decarbonization, and achieving world-class greening in each of its businesses. In addition, Marubeni is strengthening its metals and mineral resources value chain based on the business foundations, know-how, and network it has built over the years and currently handles a wide range of commercial materials, including green materials that contribute to a recycling-oriented society. Going forward, we will continue to focus on the improvement of responsible production in the metals and mineral resources industry, for which demand will continue to grow.

Copper mining projects in Chile

Marubeni holds a 30% stake in the Centinela and the Antucoya copper mines and a 12.48% stake in Los Pelambres copper mine, all of which are located in Chile. Marubeni operates the mines with one of the world's leading copper producers, Antofagasta PLC, to ensure a stable supply of copper, which is essential for realizing a decarbonized society. The equity volume of copper ingot from Marubeni's interest is 160 thousand tons a year (payable copper equivalent), a leading amount of worth among Japanese companies. Marubeni successfully switched all of its mines to renewable electric power, and all of them were also awarded the Copper Mark. In addition, Marubeni is pursuing sustainable operations with low environmental impact by using remote management as well as automated mine trucks. Marubeni also aims to further increase the value of its assets through Centinela copper mine’s expansion project, which started construction, and the development of deposits around the mine.

Centinela Copper Mine (Chile)
Antucoya Copper Mine (Chile)
Los Pelambres Copper Mine (Chile)

Aluminum smelting project

Through the operation of participating smelters and the stable supply of aluminum, Marubeni will contribute to the aluminum industry, for which demand is expected to continue to grow and which is indispensable for the creation of a decarbonized society, through the promotion of electrification, weight reduction, and other initiatives.
The Alouette Aluminum Smelter in Canada, in which Marubeni holds a 13.3% stake, has the largest production capacity in North America. The aluminum smelter, which runs on hydropower, is one of the world's top three low CO₂ emissions smelters and also has been achieving high cost competitiveness. It is certified under ASI Performance Standard, which evaluates the sustainability of smelter initiatives, and ASI Chain of Custody, which is a management standard for traceability of responsible production, processing, and distribution processes.
In addition, the Portland Aluminum Smelter in Australia, in which Marubeni has a 22.5% stake, is working to improve the sustainability of its power usage by increasing the percentage of its electricity generated from renewable energy sources and has also received certification under ASI Performance Standard.

Alouette Smelter (Canada)
Alouette Smelter (Canada)
Portland Smelter (Australia)

Roy Hill Iron Ore Project in Australia

The Roy Hill Iron Ore Project, in which Marubeni holds a 15% stake, is highly cost competitive as it owns its own mines, railroads and ports as integrated infrastructure. It has an annual production capacity of over 60 million tons, one of the largest single iron ore mines in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In addition to further improving the stability and efficiency of operations through remote management and automation of mining trucks, Roy Hill is also actively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by switching to renewable energy sources. The majority of the high-quality iron ore produced at Roy Hill is sold under long-term contracts with steel companies in Japan and other Asian countries, which will continue to contribute to the Asian steelmakers through the stable supply of high quality iron ore.

Roy Hill Iron Ore Mine (Australia)
Roy Hill Iron Ore Transportation Railway (Australia)
Roy Hill Iron Ore Carrier Out-Loading at Port Headland (Australia)

Australian Coking Coal Business

Marubeni invests in coking coal mines in Australia. The Jellinbah East coal mine and the Lake Vermont coal mine have high cost competitiveness, and shape the core of our coal business. As the largest stakeholder of both mines, we will continue to improve the cost competitiveness of our coal project and realize sustainable profit.

Jellinbah East Coal Mine (Australia)
Lake Vermont Coal Mine (Australia)
Hail Creek Coal Mine (Australia)

Initiatives to address customer needs and social issues through the materials business and trade

By stationing employees at each of our branches, with a focus on Asia, and building an extensive global network, we are developing a wide range of trades for each product and region while accurately grasping market trends. Through the interface we have built up over the years with a variety of customers in the steelmaking, electric power, electric wire, and automobile industries, we will provide a wide range of products and high value-added services, including eco-friendly recycled materials that contribute to a circular economy, such as cooper cathodes and low-carbon aluminum, by utilizing our division's network and sales and marketing capabilities to meet consumer preferences and needs.

Copper cathodes produced by Pan Pacific Copper
Aluminum Ingot at Boyne Smelter (Australia)
Bottles made with aluminum handled by Marubeni Metals Corp.

Promoting Decarbonization as well as Environmental & Circular Businesses

In response to the needs of customers and consumers facing social issues such as decarbonization, we will promote environmental and circular businesses and contribute to the creation of a sustainable society. In addition to our existing initiatives to recycle steel scrap and non-ferrous metals, we handle carbon-neutral products, ferroalloys for electrical steel sheets for EVs, battery materials, etc. We also engage in battery waste recycling businesses, including through an investment in Cirba Solutions LLC., a major materials recycling company in North America that manages battery waste, which has been increasing with the spread of EVs, as well as other initiatives for recycled materials. We will continue our participation in these and other sustainability-related projects, such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects in Australia and Canada, going forward.

EV battery recycling is vital to reducing environmental impact and creating greener transport options
CO₂ storage site of a CCS project in Canada
Cirba Solutions, LLC, a leader in battery recycling in North America

Promoting the steel products business by leveraging the accumulated strengths of the Marubeni Group

Through investments in Marubeni-Itochu Steel and Marubeni Construction Material Lease, we are promoting steel product-related businesses related to all industries and are a one-stop supplier to meet customer needs. In collaboration with other Marubeni divisions and Group companies in Japan and overseas, we are working to expand the earnings of the steel products business by leveraging our accumulated strengths.

Steel sheets in coil (Marubeni-Itochu Steel)
Temporary heavy steel construction materials (Marubeni Construction Material Lease)