Mining: Cost Curve Analytics

GlobalData's Mining Cost Curves database plots the major operating mines producing key minerals and metals according to their overall operating costs per unit. GlobalData provides leading levels of mine-site coverage, as well as accurate cost estimations built on extensive primary and secondary research.

For each mine and mining company, GlobalData gathers available cost data, as well as various geological, operational, and economic factors that influence the operating cost of a mine, including ROM and commodity production, equipment and plant, grade and relevant port charge and royalty rates. We establish relationships for each of the key costs (mining, processing, admin etc.) with the various inputs, such as stripping ratio for mining cost; port distance for transport costs or recovery factor for processing plant. Using the input data, our model estimates the cost for element (mining, processing, etc.) and these are aggregated to arrive at total cash costs for FOB, CFR, and Mine gate in US$/tonne for each mine. Mine-by-mine data is aggregated to the company level and compared with reported costs and minor adjustments are made to ensure consistency at the company level.