Aurubis

What Aurubis does

Aurubis AG is a Hamburg-based, publicly listed (Frankfurt: NDA) integrated copper producer and the world's largest copper recycler, founded in 1866 as Norddeutsche Affinerie. The company employs approximately 7,200 people across more than 20 countries on three continents, operating major production sites in Hamburg, Lünen, and Stolberg (Germany), Olen and Beerse (Belgium), Pirdop (Bulgaria), Pori (Finland), Berango (Spain), and — as of September 2025 — Richmond, Georgia (United States). Aurubis combines primary copper smelting and electrolytic refining (Hamburg, Pirdop) with secondary multimetal recycling (Lünen, Olen, Beerse, Richmond), having produced roughly 32 million tons of copper since founding.

The product portfolio centers on copper — cathodes (99.99% purity), continuous cast rod, specialty wire, shapes, bars, profiles, and industrial and architectural rolled products including the Nordic Copper brand — alongside byproduct metals (gold, silver, tin, lead, tellurium, lead-bismuth and lead-antimony alloys, selenium) and industrial byproducts (sulfuric acid, iron silicate). Proprietary technologies include the Reducing Diffuse Emissions (RDE) filtration system at Hamburg (19,000 filter elements processing 1.6M std m³/hour, ~80% diffuse emission reduction), multi-metal recovery technology that extracts nickel, tin, and precious metals from e-scrap and complex recycling inputs at scale, the ASPA sludge processing method at Olen, and hydrogen-based anode production piloted in 2025. Quality and sustainability are underpinned by Copper Mark certification, EU Critical Raw Materials Act alignment, and ISO 14001/45001/9001 certifications.

The business operates on a B2B industrial sales model with direct relationships and contract-based pricing tied to LME copper prices plus treatment charges and premiums. Aurubis matches major benchmark premiums (notably the 39% premium increase to Codelco's record $345/tonne European premium for 2026), reflecting structural copper supply deficits. Revenue is generated across four streams — copper cathodes and downstream products, other metals (gold, silver, tin, lead), metal recycling services, and sulfuric acid/iron silicate byproducts — and is exposed to customers in EVs/automotive, data centers/AI infrastructure, power grid/ utilities, renewable energy, and e-waste recycling. Q1 FY2025/26 revenue reached €5,284 million (up 25% YoY), with FY2024/25 operating EBT of €355 million and net cash flow of €677 million (up ~30%, highest in three years). Salzgitter AG holds a 29.99% strategic stake and has signaled no intention to exit; the 'Aurubis Performance 2030' strategy launched in December 2025 targets continued expansion as a global multimetal leader.

Name

Aurubis

Legal name

Aurubis AG

Website

https://aurubis.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1866

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Aurubis AG is Europe's largest integrated copper producer and the world's largest copper recycler. The Hamburg-based public company operates primary smelting and secondary recycling facilities across Europe and North America, supplying copper products and multimetals to industrial customers in energy, automotive, and infrastructure markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Copper Production and Metal Recycling

NAICS

Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141), Copper Rolling, Drawing, Extruding, and Alloying (33142), Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing (3314)

SIC

Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341)

akta.pro primary industry

Copper Recycling & Secondary Copper Smelting/Refining (IMAKADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Copper Pyrometallurgy (Smelting, Converting) (IMAKADAE), Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Lead, Zinc) (EUAIAJAB), E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery) (IMAKAMAG), Precious & Specialty Metal Recovery (Smelting, Refining, Hydrometallurgy) (EUAIAIAD), Copper By-Products Recovery (Molybdenum, Gold/Silver, Sulfuric Acid) (IMAKADAH)

Keywords

• Copper production
• Metal recycling
• Multimetal processing
• Industrial metals
• Copper cathodes

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Copper Cathodes and Products: Primary revenue from production and sale of copper cathodes and processed copper products including wire rod, shapes, bars, profiles, and rolled products.
2. Other Metals: Revenue from gold, silver, tin, lead, and other byproduct metals recovered during copper processing.
3. Metal Recycling Services: Processing complex recycling materials including e-scrap, copper cables, and industrial waste to recover valuable metals.
4. Sulfuric Acid and Industrial Byproducts: Sale of sulfuric acid and iron silicate produced as byproducts of copper smelting operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aurubis is the world's largest copper recycler and a leading integrated copper producer. The company mines, smelts, and refines copper concentrates and complex secondary raw materials (including e-scrap) into high-purity copper cathodes (99.99% Cu) and downstream copper products (wire rod, shapes, bars, profiles, rolled products). It also recovers and sells precious metals (gold, silver), tin, lead, tellurium, and industrial by-products (sulfuric acid, iron silicate) for industrial B2B customers.

Product overview

Aurubis is a leading global multimetal company and the world's largest copper recycler, operating on three continents with approximately 7,200 employees. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio centered on copper products (cathodes, rod, wire, shapes, bars, profiles, industrial and architectural rolled products), precious metals (gold, silver), tin, lead, and specialty metals (tellurium). Its operations include primary copper smelting and refining (Hamburg, Pirdop), secondary metal recycling (Lünen, Olen, Beerse, Richmond), and a Nordic Copper architectural brand. Aurubis processes both mined ores and complex recycled materials to recover multiple metals including copper, nickel, precious metals, and tin, supported by proprietary recycling technologies. The company also produces industrial by-products including sulfuric acid and iron silicate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Copper Cathodes High-purity copper cathodes (99.99% Cu) produced through electrolytic refining, serving as primary feedstock for copper wire, rod, and flat-rolled products for industrial manufacturers.
• Continuous Cast Rod and Specialty Wire Copper rod and specialty wire products manufactured using continuous casting for electrical wire, cable, and telecommunications applications.
• Copper Shapes Strangecast formats (cast shapes) produced through continuous casting for further processing into wire rod, tubes, and profiles.
• Bars & Profiles Copper bars and profiles for electrical connectors, switchgear, and industrial applications requiring high conductivity and formability.
• Industrial Rolled Products Flat-rolled copper and copper alloy products for automotive, electronics, and industrial manufacturing applications.
• Architectural Rolled Products Decorative and architectural copper products for facades, roofing, and interior design applications.
• Nordic Copper Premium architectural copper product line including Nordic Standard, Nordic Bronze, Nordic Blue, Nordic Brown, Nordic Royal, Nordic Brass, and Nordic Green patinated finishes for building applications.
• Gold Refined gold produced as a by-product of copper and other non-ferrous metal smelting and refining operations.
• Silver Refined silver produced as a by-product of copper and other non-ferrous metal smelting and refining operations.
• Tin Ingots Refined tin ingots produced from secondary sources and complex raw materials recycling operations.
• Lead Refined lead produced as a by-product of copper smelting operations.
• Lead-Bismuth Alloy Specialty lead alloy containing bismuth for applications requiring improved casting properties.
• Lead-Antimony Litharge Lead-antimony oxide compound produced during lead refining processes.
• Tellurium Metal Rare tellurium metal recovered from complex ore and secondary raw materials.
• Tellurium Dioxide High-purity tellurium dioxide for semiconductor and solar cell applications.
• Metal Recycling Recycling of copper-bearing scrap, end-of-life products, and industrial residues to recover copper and other non-ferrous metals for industrial buyers and scrap suppliers.
• E-Scrap and Complex Raw Materials Processing Processing of electronic scrap and complex secondary raw materials to recover copper, precious metals, and other valuable components.
• Sulfuric Acid Industrial-grade sulfuric acid produced as a by-product of metal smelting operations.
• Iron Silicate Iron silicate produced as a slag by-product from copper smelting, used in construction and cement applications.
• Copper on Account Cathode leasing and financing service allowing industrial customers to secure copper inventory without taking physical delivery.
• Aurubis Richmond Multimetal Recycling Plant First U.S. multimetal recycling plant producing high-grade blister copper, nickel, tin, and precious metals from electronic waste and complex secondary raw materials for North American industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% reduction in diffuse emissions from primary copper production achieved through RDE system expansion in Hamburg
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Enercity ContractingflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneering waste heat recovery project capturing thermal energy from copper smelting for climate-neutral district heating to Hamburg's Hafencity East, requiring over €20 million investment from each partner.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NSF Tech Metal Transformation Challenge, providing donated electronic waste as reference material for critical materials recovery technology development.
• U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NSF Tech Metal Transformation Challenge with STRIDE Ventures for critical minerals recovery technology, with Aurubis providing industrial validation using donated e-waste.
• SMS GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partner for Aurubis Richmond multimetal recycling plant in Georgia, USA.
• Troilus GoldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFixed-price offtake agreement for copper-gold concentrate supply from Troilus' Quebec project, with Aurubis supplying 75,000 tpy of Canadian copper concentrate from 2028.
• BolidencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic offtake partner for copper concentrate from Troilus project.
• Ivanhoe MinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReceives copper anodes (99.7% purity) from Ivanhoe's Kamoa-Kakula complex via Lobito Corridor railway for European refining.
• ABBcoreTechnology or IntegrationEnergy efficiency partnership using ABB IE6 SynRM motors and IE4/IE5 motors at Pirdop plant achieving 25 GWh annual electricity savings.
• Air LiquideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint air separation unit project for industrial gas supply at Bulgarian site.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Freeport-McMoRan: US-based major copper miner with operations spanning mining, smelting, and refining. Larger and mining-focused incumbent operating across the integrated copper value chain.
• Anglo American: UK-listed diversified miner with major copper operations in Chile (Los Bronces, Collahuasi) and Peru (Quellaveco). Mining-focused incumbent that competes with Aurubis as a copper cathode source.
• Glencore: Swiss diversified mining and commodities trading giant with major copper mining and smelting operations. Significantly larger and more diversified than Aurubis but competes across multiple copper value chain stages.
• BHP Group: Anglo-Australian diversified miner with one of the world's largest copper portfolios (Escondida, Olympic Dam). Significantly larger but competes in cathode production and copper concentrate supply.

Direct peers

• Codelco: Chilean state-owned copper producer and the world's largest copper miner. Direct competitor to Aurubis in integrated copper production; Aurubis explicitly benchmarks its European cathode premium against Codelco's record pricing.
• Dowa Holdings: Japanese non-ferrous metals company specializing in copper smelting, electronic materials, and metal recycling including e-waste. Closest functional peer in multi-metal recycling and secondary smelting.
• Umicore: Belgian materials technology and recycling company with operations in precious metals refining, recycling, and catalysis. Comparable business model as a non-ferrous metals processor and recycler with European footprint.
• Jiangxi Copper: Chinese state-owned integrated copper producer and one of the world's largest copper smelters/refiners. Directly competes with Aurubis in global cathode supply and copper concentrate markets.
• Sumitomo Metal Mining: Japanese integrated non-ferrous metals producer with copper smelting/refining and nickel operations. Comparable integrated copper business with precious metals recovery capabilities.
• Boliden: Swedish metals and mining company operating copper and zinc smelters across Europe. Closest functional peer to Aurubis in integrated copper smelting and recycling, particularly in Nordic/Baltic markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aurubis150
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AurubisComm
• Facebookfacebook.com/aurubis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aurubis-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/aurubis
• TikToktiktok.com/@aurubis.ag

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aurubis