Global professional services firm Ernst & Young has stated that in 2010 the total transaction value of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals concluded by Chinese metal and mining enterprises came to $12.84 billion, down 20 percent year on year. Specifically, the overall value of their overseas M&A deals in the mining sector in 2010 came to $4.5 billion, down 55 percent compared to 2009.
In 2009 China was the world's leading country in terms of the value of its M&A deals in the mining sector, while in 2010 it fell to fourth place.