Copper production from Chile’s state-owned miner Codelco, the world’s largest producer of the metal, declined 6.1% in April compared to the same month last year. Codelco’s copper output totaled 95,100 metric tons during the month.
The decline in copper output was more pronounced at the BHP-controlled Escondida mine, where production shrank 6.8% to 98,000 tons in April.
In contrast, the Collahuasi mine, jointly operated by Glencore and Anglo American, saw a slight increase of 1.9% in copper production, reaching 42,300 tons.
Overall, Chile’s total copper output slipped 1.7% from a year earlier to 405,600 tons, according to data from the country’s copper commission, Cochilco.
The decrease in Codelco’s and Escondida’s copper production contributed to the overall decline in Chile’s total copper output in April. Codelco and Escondida are two of the country’s largest copper producers, and their performance can significantly impact the national production figures.
The reasons behind the lower copper output at these mines were not provided in the report. However, factors such as operational challenges, maintenance activities, or disruptions in the supply chain could have contributed to the production declines.
Chile is the world’s largest copper-producing country, accounting for a significant portion of global copper supply. The performance of its major copper mines, including Codelco and Escondida, is closely monitored by the industry and can have implications for global copper prices and market dynamics.