Mines: world copper production up 3.7% in Q1 2021 (Report)
According to a report by the International Copper Study Group (ICSG), global copper mining production increased 3.7% in the first three months of 2021, reports Mining.com. The production of concentrate increased by 5.5% and the electrolytic extraction by solvent (SX-EW) decreased by approximately 3.5%, notes this institution.
With the covid-19 pandemic hitting the world as early as January 2020, global mining production began to recover in June 2020 as lockdown measures eased and the industry adapted to health protocols. more stringent that remain in place in 2021.
In Peru, the second-largest copper-producing country in the world, production rose 3% mainly because March production rose 18% from a limited base in March 2020, reports the ICSG. However, January-March 2021 production is still 10% lower than January-March 2019.
However, in Chile, the world’s largest copper-producing country, total production fell by 2%, with a 3.5% growth in concentrate production more than offset by a 16% drop in production. production of SX-EW.
Large increases were also seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mongolia, Panama and Russia due to additional production from new or expanded operations, according to the ICSG.
Preliminary data indicates that global refined copper production increased by around 4% in the first three months of 2021, with primary production (electrolytic and electrolytic) increasing by 4.2% and secondary production (from scrap) by 2.3%.
In Africa, refined production increased by 16% in DR Congo due to the continued ramp-up of new or expanded SX-EW factories, and by 39% in Zambia, where production recovered following operational problems at foundries and temporary closures during 2019 and early 2020.
