Chile’s copper output increased by 0.4pc to 459,100mt in January, driven by higher production from some of the biggest miners in the country.
However, Codelco, the world’s top copper producer, recorded an output decline of 6.8pc to 118,600mt during the month, according to the latest figures from the Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco).
Codelco’s Chuquicamata, Radomiro Tomic, and Ministro Hales mines, which are located in northern Chile’s Antofagasta Region, recorded a collective production decline of 12.8pc to 49,900mt. Production at the company’s El Salvador mine decreased by 42.9pc to 2,400mt, while copper output at Andina fell by 4.8pc to 15,900mt.
Production at Anglo American’s Sur mine decreased by 31.5pc to 23,700 mt, according to figures from Cochilco.
However, Copper production at BHP Billiton’s Escondida mine increased by 9.9pc to 100,900 mt in January, compared to the same month in 2019. Output at the Collahuasi mine increased by 20.2pc to 53,500mt in January 2020.
Chile’s copper production is expected to reach 5.87mn this year, while production in 2021 is anticipated to rise by 0.7pc to 5.91mn compared to 2020, Cochilco has said.