Chile Copper Output Drops 13.8% in April as Lower Ore Grades Hit Major Mines
Chile’s Copper Production Falls Sharply in April Amid Weaker Ore Grades and Output Decline
Copper production in Chile, the world’s largest producer of the metal, declined by 13.8% year-on-year in April, according to data released on Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
Output fell to 399,954 metric tons, compared with 464,056 tons recorded in the same month last year.
The agency attributed the decline to a high base of comparison and lower ore grades at major mining operations across the country.
Chile’s broader industrial activity also weakened during the period. Manufacturing production decreased by 2.5% year-on-year, according to a separate INE report.
The manufacturing sector’s decline was primarily driven by a 7.7% drop in food production.
Within this segment, output of fish and fish by-products was significantly affected by adverse weather conditions, which reduced biomass availability.
In addition, production of metal products fell sharply by 15.4%, further weighing on overall industrial performance.
The data highlights ongoing volatility in Chile’s mining and manufacturing sectors, both of which remain key pillars of the country’s export-driven economy.
