- Business
- Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. engages in mineral resource development, non-ferrous metal smelting and refining, and advanced materials manufacturing. The company mines copper, nickel, gold, and other metals from operations including the Hishikari Mine in Japan, Quebrada Blanca Copper Mine in Chile, and stakes in projects worldwide; smelts and refines low-grade ores into high-purity copper, nickel sulfate, gold, zinc, and precious metals using proprietary technologies like HPAL; and produces battery materials such as cathode active materials for lithium-ion and all-solid-state batteries, electronic materials including copper foil and powder, near-infrared absorbing materials, and magnetostrictive alloys. Founded in 1590 and incorporated in 1950, Sumitomo Metal Mining maintains headquarters at 11-3, Shimbashi 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, with subsidiaries and operations spanning Japan, Australia, Canada, Chile, the Philippines, the United States, China, and other regions serving automotive, electronics, energy, and industrial markets. Recent developments include a May 2025 joint venture with Rio Tinto acquiring a 30% stake in the Winu copper-gold project in Western Australia for up to $430.4 million; a May 2025 definitive agreement granting Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada up to 80% interest in Inomin Mines' Beaver-Lynx project in British Columbia; ongoing collaboration with Nano One on lithium iron phosphate cathode commercialization advancing toward production; a new three-year business plan through 2027 emphasizing battery materials rebuilding, smelting competitiveness, and expansions in nickel, copper, gold, recycling, and SiC substrates; and partnerships such as with Toyota on mass production of all-solid-state battery cathode materials.