Chile’s copper ores and concentrates exports rose by 31pc to 1.31mn mt in April from the year prior, unaffected by COVID-19 related shutdowns.
The increase in exports was driven by healthy demand from China after the resumption of operations post lockdown. China imported 748,752mt in April, a jump of 68pc from the prior-year period as downstream demand began to recover. Japan remained the second-largest importer of copper ores and concentrates from Chile and imported 261,395mt, down by 10pc from the prior-year period, as operations in Japan remained shut amid a national emergency declared by the government to prevent the spread of the virus. South Korea imported 111,826mt of copper ore and concentrates from Chile in April, up by 13pc from the prior-year period as operations in South Korea were not impacted majorly during the time.
Exports to China are expected to further increase in the second half of the year with new infrastructure projects announced by Chinese authorities at their National Congress meetings.