Osaka, Japan, June 18, 2025.- Mining Week kicked off this Monday at the Chilean pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025, an international exposition attended by more than 160 countries and organizations and visited by some 30 million people.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Mining, Aurora Williams, accompanied by Codelco's Vice Presidents of Marketing, Braim Chiple, and Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Gabriel Méndez; as well as representatives of the Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC), along with a delegation of Chilean business leaders.

The presentation highlighted Codelco's role in the country's large-scale mining industry. Images of the company's various operations were projected across the 42-meter screen surrounding the stand, and QR codes provided access to relevant company information on topics such as innovation, diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and lithium, as well as more specific aspects such as the importance of Chilean molybdenum in the Japanese market.

“Our presence at this international fair is a showcase for what we do and an opportunity to discuss our principles and values: at Codelco, we believe that the mining industry of the future must be innovative, inclusive, and deeply sustainable. We are transforming century-old operations with technology, strategic alliances, and an unwavering commitment to the sustainable development of Chile and the planet,” emphasized Gabriel Méndez.

The Chilean pavilion, dubbed "Makün: The Cloak of Chile," features a textile garment crafted by 200 Chilean weavers from the Araucanía region that evokes the traditional culture of the Mapuche people. In keeping with this definition, Codelco presented the work "Witral Wentru/Domo" by artist Ximena Orrego at the stand. This goldsmith's piece blends the textile tradition and mining traditions of the O'Higgins region. Copper is displayed in different dimensions, exploring all the shades it can offer through various treatments.

With molybdenum, Codelco is a strategic partner of Japan

Molybdenum was another of the main focuses highlighted in the booth information, given that it is the metal that connects Chile and Japan par excellence. In 2024, Codelco produced 16,000 tons of molybdenum, equivalent to 7% of global production, and 60% went to the Japanese market.

The Corporation has a long-standing relationship with the Japanese industry, which began in the 1980s and was strengthened with the construction of the Molyb plant in 2016, whose financing was provided by the Japanese government through the JBIC bank and which today allows the marketing of molybdenum products to that country and other markets around the world.

Molybdenum is key to the production of high-strength steels and critical applications in sectors such as energy, construction, transportation, agriculture, and healthcare. With its extraordinary properties—corrosion resistance, high melting point, and thermal stability—it is essential in a technological and industrial economy like Japan's.

“Our relationship with the Japanese steel industry is strong and strategic. We maintain constant dialogue to strengthen collaboration and explore new opportunities for joint development. In the Asia-Pacific region, everything indicates that the molybdenum market will continue to grow steadily, and we are prepared to support this growth with a reliable and sustainable supply,” commented Braim Chiple.

Client meetings and other activities

As part of Mining Week, a group of 30 clients of Japanese companies, accompanied by Codelco executives, visited the Esmeralda Training Ship upon its arrival at the port of Osaka. Codelco representatives also held various meetings with molybdenum clients from the Japan Moly Working Group (JMWG).

Braim Chiple was also among the speakers at the Chile-Japan Business Summit: Connecting Opportunities, organized by the Chilean Central Bank (CPC) and the Ministry of Mining. Former President Eduardo Frei, Minister Aurora Williams, and CPC President Susana Jiménez also participated.

Chiple highlighted Codelco's commitment as a strategic supplier of critical minerals for sustainable development, offering a secure, stable, and traceable supply of copper, molybdenum, and other essential metals. He also noted that Japan is a key partner for the Corporation, representing approximately US$600 million in annual revenue.

“Japan is a market that values long-term stability and security of supply, and that's exactly what we can offer. We have a competitive advantage with our reserves and their quality, which gives us the option to plan for the long term,” Chiple explained to the attendees.

Codelco