Brand Finance’s Mining, Metals & Minerals 50 2026 report reveals that China’s mining sector is valued at $19.6 billion
BEIJING, 6 August 2026 - China remains the world’s most valuable mining market, with a total brand value of USD19.6 billion in 2026, representing 24% of the sector’s collective brand value, according to the latest Mining, Metals & Minerals 2026 report by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy.
The country is the most represented market in the sector ranking, with 12 brands featured in the top 50, underlining its scale and depth across the global mining value chain.
Growth across Chinese mining brands is increasingly driven by diversified exposure to higher-performing commodities such as gold and aluminium, helping offset weaker demand in property-linked steel markets.
Four Chinese brands rank within the global top 10, underlining their international influence. Jiangxi Copper (brand value down 4% to USD3.5 billion) ranks sixth globally and remains China’s most valuable mining brand. Its brand value dip reflects weaker copper demand and reduced trading volumes.
Zijin Mining (brand value up 19% to USD2.7 billion) ranks eighth globally, supported by strong operational performance and rising production, driven by expansion of gold and copper assets, reinforcing its position in key growth commodities.
China Shenhua (brand value down 10% to USD2.5 billion) ranks ninth globally despite a brand value decline, reflecting a weaker thermal coal outlook as China’s energy transition accelerates, constraining long-term demand.
Baosteel (brand value down 1% at USD2.5 billion) ranks 10th amidst softer domestic steel demand and reduced exports due to rising tariffs.
China Hongqiao Group (brand value up 35% to USD1.2 billion) ranks 23rd globally, moving up nine positions from last year. The brand’s strong growth is largely driven by improved financial performance and stronger aluminium market conditions.
Meanwhile, Tongling Nonferrous Metals (brand value up 51% to USD967 million) is the fastest-growing mining brand globally, driven by higher production volumes. Self-produced copper increased by 26% in 2025, strengthening its market position and supporting higher revenue expectations. Growth is further reinforced by expansion projects such as the Mirador mine, alongside a focus on higher-value products including copper strips used in integrated circuits.
Scott Chen, Managing Director, Brand Finance China, commented:
“China’s mining sector continues to be a global leader, supported by its scale and depth across key commodity segments. The presence of four Chinese brands in the global top 10, Jiangxi Copper, Zijin Mining, China Shenhua, and BAOWU, alongside 12 brands in the top 50, highlights the strength of its mining ecosystem. Performance is becoming more varied, with stronger momentum among brands exposed to copper and aluminium, while those tied to coal and steel markets face structural pressure. This reflects a broader shift in demand patterns, where exposure to transition-linked materials is increasingly shaping long-term brand value.”
Meanwhile, other notable Chinese mining brands featured in the global rankings are:
Sustainability
Brand Finance also assesses the brands consumers consider most committed to sustainability. The 2026 Sustainability Perceptions Index reveals which brands are perceived to have the strongest commitment to sustainability globally, the changing role of sustainability in driving demand, and the large amounts of value at risk, being missed, and being secured by the world’s biggest brands.
Nucor emerges as the top-ranked mining brand for environmental sustainability perceptions. Meanwhile, Tai Gang is highly regarded for its social sustainability efforts, and HAILIANG leads in governance.
Global Insights
Brand Finance is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Bridging the gap between marketing and finance, Brand Finance evaluates the strength of brands and quantifies their financial value to help organisations make strategic decisions.
Headquartered in London, Brand Finance operates in over 25 countries. Every year, Brand Finance conducts more than 6,000 brand valuations, supported by original market research, and publishes over 100 reports which rank brands across all sectors and countries.
Brand Finance also operates the Global Brand Equity Monitor, conducting original market research annually on 6,000 brands, surveying more than 175,000 respondents across 41 countries and 31 industry sectors. By combining perceptual data from the Global Brand Equity Monitor with data from its valuation database — the largest brand value database in the world — Brand Finance equips ambitious brand leaders with the data, analytics, and the strategic guidance they need to enhance brand and business value.
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics, compliant with ISO 20671.
Brand Finance is a regulated accountancy firm and a committed leader in the standardisation of the brand valuation industry. Brand Finance was the first to be certified by independent auditors as compliant with both ISO 10668 and ISO 20671 and has received the official endorsement of the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) in the United States.
Brand is defined as a marketing-related intangible asset including, but not limited to, names, terms, signs, symbols, logos, and designs, intended to identify goods, services, or entities, creating distinctive images and associations in the minds of stakeholders, thereby generating economic benefits.
Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors. Brand Finance evaluates brand strength in a process compliant with ISO 20671, looking at Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and the impact of those on Business Performance. The data used is derived from Brand Finance’s proprietary market research programme and from publicly available sources.
Each brand is assigned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score out of 100, which feeds into the brand value calculation. Based on the score, each brand is assigned a corresponding Brand Rating up to AAA+ in a format similar to a credit rating.
Brand Finance calculates the values of brands in its rankings using the Royalty Relief approach – a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668. It involves estimating the likely future revenues that are attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, to arrive at a ‘brand value’ understood as a net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market.
The steps in this process are as follows:
1 Calculate brand strength using a balanced scorecard of metrics assessing Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and Business Performance. Brand strength is expressed as a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score on a scale of 0 to 100.
2 Determine royalty range for each industry, reflecting the importance of brand to purchasing decisions. In luxury, the maximum percentage is high, while in extractive industry, where goods are often commoditised, it is lower. This is done by reviewing comparable licensing agreements sourced from Brand Finance’s extensive database.
3 Calculate royalty rate. The BSI score is applied to the royalty range to arrive at a royalty rate. For example, if the royalty range in a sector is 0-5% and a brand has a BSI score of 80 out of 100, then an appropriate royalty rate for the use of this brand in the given sector will be 4%.
4 Determine brand-specific revenues by estimating a proportion of parent company revenues attributable to a brand.
5 Determine forecast revenues using a function of historic revenues, equity analyst forecasts, and economic growth rates.
6 Apply the royalty rate to the forecast revenues to derive brand revenues.
7 Discount post-tax brand revenues to a net present value which equals the brand value.
Brand Finance has produced this study with an independent and unbiased analysis. The values derived and opinions presented in this study are based on publicly available information and certain assumptions that Brand Finance used where such data was deficient or unclear. Brand Finance accepts no responsibility and will not be liable in the event that the publicly available information relied upon is subsequently found to be inaccurate. The opinions and financial analysis expressed in the study are not to be construed as providing investment or business advice. Brand Finance does not intend the study to be relied upon for any reason and excludes all liability to any body, government, or organisation.
The data presented in this study form part of Brand Finance's proprietary database, are provided for the benefit of the media, and are not to be used in part or in full for any commercial or technical purpose without written permission from Brand Finance.
