Chile’s copper ore exports dropped by 1.8pc in November from the year prior, on production disruptions.
Chile, the world’s biggest copper mine producing country, exported 1.1mn mt of copper ore in November 2019, down by 26,000mt from November 2018. Chile’s mining activity fell by 7.1pc in November, with operational issues at major mines caused by protests, strikes and road closures in the country.
Unionized workers at BHP’s Escondida copper mine, the world’s largest, went on a strike in October 2019 to stand in solidarity with the Chilean protests.
China continued to be the top importer of copper ore from Chile, and imported 652,202mt in November, down by 13.3pc or 99,842mt, from the prior year period.
Japan was the second largest copper ore importer, and imported 160,018mt in November, down by 4.9pc.
Exports from Jan-Nov however, went up by 11.8pc in November. Chile exported 12.3mn mt of copper ores and concentrates, up from 11mn mt in November in the prior year.