Overview
- Rio Tinto said any potential transaction would likely be an acquisition of Glencore via a court‑sanctioned scheme, reviving talks first floated in 2024.
- Benchmark data cited in local reports indicates combined attributable copper output would top 1.6 million tonnes in 2026, positioning the merged group as the largest producer.
- Copper set a new high near $5.92 per pound after a 41% surge in 2025, reflecting demand from electrification, AI, renewables and defense.
- Argentina’s RIGI framework has lowered the sector’s effective tax burden, which CRU says makes the country more competitive than Chile and Peru for new projects.
- Despite marquee filings—El Pachón at $9.5 billion and a $13 billion RIGI submission by Glencore covering Agua Rica and an initial El Pachón phase—most major projects lack final investment decisions and current domestic output remains minimal.