Glencore Nordenham is a facility in Germany acquired by Glencore in 1973, specializing in metal production.

Glencore, one of the world’s largest diversified natural resource companies, was founded in 1974. It has a rich history and has grown through organic means and acquisitions.

In 1983, Marc Rich was indicted on tax evasion charges, described as one of the biggest cases in US history. This event led to Rich fleeing to Switzerland and remaining on the FBI's most-wanted list for almost two decades.

In 1987, Glencore expanded its business beyond commodities trading by acquiring a 27% stake in a U.S. aluminium smelter.

In 1988, Glencore further diversified its portfolio by purchasing a two-thirds stake in a Peruvian lead and zinc mine.

In 1990, Glencore acquired a stake in the miner Xstrata, which was then known as Sudelektra AG. This strategic move marked a significant development in the company's expansion.

In 1993, Marc Rich lost $172 million and control of his firm in a failed attempt to dominate the zinc market.

In 1994, Glencore was formed through a management buyout of Marc Rich + Co AG. This marked the beginning of Glencore's journey as a major player in the commodities trading and mining industry.

Glencore Australia has been a significant component of the Glencore corporation for 25 years.

In 1998, Glencore started its mining investments in Australia, marking the beginning of its presence in the Australian mining sector.

On January 20, 2001, former U.S. President Bill Clinton granted a controversial presidential pardon to Marc Rich, who was indicted for tax evasion and controversial oil deals with Iran during the Iran hostage crisis.

In 2002, Glencore's Australian expansion was rapidly accelerating in various sectors including metals, minerals, energy products such as coal, and agriculture.

In 2003, Glencore Agriculture initiated its operations in Australia, marking the beginning of its presence in the Australian agricultural sector.

In 2005, proceeds from an oil sale to Glencore were seized in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to fraudulent gains as part of a corruption investigation.

In 2006, Xstrata acquired Noranda Mines Limited and Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited, which were later acquired by Glencore in 2013.

In 2007, Glencore acquired a 50% share in SAMREF Congo SPRL, a company holding 80% of the Mutanda Mine in Congo. This acquisition further expanded Glencore's mining interests in the region.

In July 2010, Congo's government secretly transferred a 75% stake in the Kansuki mine to a company associated with Dan Gertler at undervalued prices. This transaction raised questions about the involvement of influential figures in the mining industry.

In August 2010, Glencore acquired half the shares of the company that obtained the 75% stake in the Kansuki mine, effectively becoming the operator of the mine. This move solidified Glencore's presence in the mining sector in Congo.

On 1 March 2011, SAMREF recommended that Congo's state-run company Gécamines sell its 20% share in the Mutanda Mine to an entity associated with Dan Gertler. This raised concerns about the relationships between Glencore, Gertler, and the mining industry in Congo.

On May 25, 2011, Glencore International Plc's shares fell by 3 percent during their debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The decline was attributed to a lower start in London the previous day and concerns from retail investors about the expensive offer price.

On May 9, 2012, Glencore held its annual shareholder meeting in the Swiss town of Zug. CEO Ivan Glasenberg was seen smiling as he left the meeting.

On November 20, 2012, Glencore CEO Ivan Glasenberg arrived at an extraordinary shareholder meeting in Zug, Switzerland. Shareholders of miner Xstrata were anticipated to approve a $31-billion acquisition by Glencore, marking one of the biggest mergers in the industry.

On May 2, 2013, Glencore successfully completed the merger with Xstrata, forming one of the largest mining and trading entities in the world.

In 2014, Willy Strothotte, the founding CEO of Glencore, participated in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, California.

On May 20, 2014, Glencore Xstrata officially changed its name to Glencore plc, marking a significant transition in the company's identity post-merger.

On November 5, 2017, the Paradise Papers exposed that Glencore had loaned $45 million to Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler in exchange for assistance with officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo regarding a joint venture at the Katanga copper mine.

On July 3, 2018, Glencore disclosed receiving a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice related to compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering statutes. The subpoena pertains to Glencore's operations in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Venezuela.

On March 6, 2019, The Guardian Australia accused Glencore, with the help of consulting firm CT Group, of conducting a large-scale lobbying campaign to promote coal use globally. The campaign allegedly involved undermining environmental activists, influencing politicians, and spreading pro-coal messages on social media.

In June 2020, Glencore and Tesla collaborated for the supply of cobalt in lithium-ion batteries, marking a significant move in the battery industry.

In August 2020, Glencore halted dividend payments to focus on reducing its debt due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact, becoming the first major mining company to do so.

In October 2020, Glencore offered $10 million in bridge financing to Falco Resources, a gold and copper mining company in Quebec, Canada, demonstrating its commitment to supporting mining ventures.

In December 2020, Ivan Glasenberg announced his retirement as Glencore CEO after nearly 20 years. He will be succeeded by Gary Nagle, who currently manages the firm's coal business.

On June 22, 2021, Glencore reported that the Mutanda mine would be reopened towards the end of 2021 and resume production in 2022. Discussions with Congo's mining ministry had taken place, and the company's cobalt prospects were boosted by a battery supply contract with Tesla Motors.

On 24 May 2022, Glencore admitted to multiple counts of bribery and agreed to pay around $1.5 billion in penalties.

On August 19, 2022, shares in Glencore dropped by 10% to 159p following disappointing financial results and worries regarding the company's substantial debt burden.

In November 2023, Glencore acquired Teck Resources' steelmaking coal business for $9 billion. Additionally, Glencore announced plans to spin off its coal assets into a separate entity by 2025.

As of December 2023, Glencore's Board of Directors includes Kalidas Madhavpeddi as the non-executive chairman, Gary Nagle as the CEO, and other non-executive directors such as Peter Coates, Martin Gilbert, Liz Hewitt, Gill Marcus, Patrice Merrin, Cynthia Carroll, and David Wormsley.

The Raising Concerns programme allows individuals to report any behavior that violates Glencore's Code of Conduct in confidence.