As the industry innovates, it’s also reinventing the role that it can play in the global economy—by mobilising the resources needed for sustainable growth.
The global mining industry faced a challenge in 2023 that was at once unprecedented and familiar. The financial performance of the world’s Top 40 mining companies was squeezed by falling commodity prices and rising costs. Revenues fell more than 7%, despite increases in the production of key commodities, and profits shrunk, too; 2024 promises a continuation of these trends, marking the first time since 2016 that industry revenues will fall for a second consecutive year. And a mix of cyclical and structural issues compels leading miners to invest for growth and transformation even as revenues and profit margins come under pressure.
Mining occupies a unique role among global industries. The world’s top mining companies are helping feed the world while lighting the path to a low-carbon future and providing materials for infrastructure development and consumer needs. These structural trends underpin the demand that miners will have to meet in a world where the pace of change and disruption is accelerating. As regulatory, economic and societal pressures increase, mining companies are busily reinventing their business models so they can create value in new ways while working more effectively as important players in burgeoning ecosystems.
In this, PwC’s 21st Mine report, we focus on how the industry is planning for impact—retooling and reimagining itself to be a key contributor to growth. That means throwing into relief the vital role mining plays in an adjacent domain: how the world feeds itself. It means delving into the potential and challenges of the complementary industry of urban mining (that is, recycling). And it means harnessing technology—including the revolutionary implications of AI—to advance productivity, sustainability and safety.
Amid the changing landscape, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remain a crucial strategy for miners that want to create impact. Although the number of deals fell in 2023, their value increased, and so did the focus on critical minerals. But transactions today—and tomorrow—are not simply about gaining scale. They’re about gaining the capabilities and assets that enable companies to collaborate with counterparts in broader industrial ecosystems. Mining companies are increasingly forming alliances beyond traditional boundaries as they seek to acquire vital technical skills and to collaborate with governments in order to create enabling environments.
Source: PwC
