Chile’s copper output in September fell by 0.8pc to 484,768mt from the prior year amid lower ore grades and a decrease in mineral processing by top companies. The country’s manufacturing rose by 5.3pc from the prior year, according to media reports citing the government statistics agency INE.
In the Jan-Sep period, Chile’s total copper production grew by 0.5pc to 4.3mn mt from the prior-year period. State-owned miner Codelco’s output rose by 4.1pc to 1.17mn mt of fine copper in the Jan-Sep period. The company is confident of meeting its 2020 output target of despite the challenged posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Copper mining companies in Chile remained mostly operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in June and July, they were forced to reduce staff and halt projects and smelters after COVID-19 cases increased in the country.
In October, Worker’s unions threatened strikes at some mines in Chile. Negotiations between management and workers are on at several mines. Workers at Collahuasi mine, Chile’s second-largest copper mine have reached an early agreement, while union negotiations BHP’s Escondida mine failed.