The global market for base metal mining is characterized by a markedly high level of consolidation, with Glencore Plc. solely accounting for over 68% of the global market in 2014, states a report by Transparency Market Research. Other major vendors in the market, comprising BHP Billiton Limited, Freeport-McMoRan, Inc., Antofagasta PLC, CODELCO, and Alcoa Inc., cumulatively accounted for nearly 18% of the market in the same year. Plus
