Chile’s copper production plunged 15.1% year-on-year to 387.87 metric tons in September 2026, marking its steepest decline since March 2017 and the third consecutive monthly fall. Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz warned that output could fall by 8% to 9% this year, worsening his previous forecast of a 7% contraction and putting the world’s largest copper producer on track for its weakest annual production in more than two decades. The decline reflects fatal mining accidents, extreme weather, operational disruptions and years of underinvestment, which have left aging mines struggling with deteriorating ore grades. The supply shortfall is adding to tightening conditions in the global copper market, where demand is rising due to investment in data centers and power infrastructure. Although mining investment projects are increasing, their contribution to output will take time to materialize. source: National Institute of Statistics, Chile

Copper Production in Chile increased to 387.87 Thousands of Tonnes in September from 369.50 Thousands of Tonnes in August of 2026. Copper Production in Chile averaged 463.84 Thousands of Tonnes from 2011 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 567.13 Thousands of Tonnes in December of 2024 and a record low of 356.20 Thousands of Tonnes in February of 2011. This page provides - Chile Copper Production- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Chile Copper Production - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on November of 2026.

Copper Production in Chile increased to 387.87 Thousands of Tonnes in September from 369.50 Thousands of Tonnes in August of 2026. Copper Production in Chile is expected to be 480.00 Thousands of Tonnes by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Chile Copper Production is projected to trend around 510.00 Thousands of Tonnes in 2027 and 530.00 Thousands of Tonnes in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-30 12:00 PM
Copper Production YoY
Aug -12.8% -9.4%
2026-10-30 12:00 PM
Copper Production YoY
Sep -15.1% -12.8% -15.0%
2026-11-30 12:00 PM
Copper Production YoY
Oct -15.1%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Copper Production YoY 387.87 369.50 Thousands of Tonnes Sep 2026
Industrial Production YoY -2.70 -5.70 percent Sep 2026
Industrial Production Mom 2.70 -2.20 percent Sep 2026
Manufacturing Production YoY 2.00 -2.40 percent Sep 2026
Mining Production -8.70 -11.70 percent Sep 2026


Chile Copper Production
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
387.87 369.50 567.13 356.20 2011 - 2026 Thousands of Tonnes Monthly

News Stream
Chile Copper Output Falls Most Since 2017
Chile’s copper production plunged 15.1% year-on-year to 387.87 metric tons in September 2026, marking its steepest decline since March 2017 and the third consecutive monthly fall. Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz warned that output could fall by 8% to 9% this year, worsening his previous forecast of a 7% contraction and putting the world’s largest copper producer on track for its weakest annual production in more than two decades. The decline reflects fatal mining accidents, extreme weather, operational disruptions and years of underinvestment, which have left aging mines struggling with deteriorating ore grades. The supply shortfall is adding to tightening conditions in the global copper market, where demand is rising due to investment in data centers and power infrastructure. Although mining investment projects are increasing, their contribution to output will take time to materialize.
2026-10-30
Chile Copper Output Drops to Lowest Since 2011
Chile’s copper production fell 12.8% year-on-year to 369.5 metric tons in August 2026, reaching its lowest level of output since February of 2011 and extending a 9.4% decline in the previous month. The decline reflects severe winter weather and port disruptions that affected production operations during the month, following storms that had already hit several northern mines in July. The sharp drop in output from Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, added to concerns over the physical market that has showed signs of tightness.
2026-09-30
Chile Copper Output Drops in July
Chile’s copper production fell 9.4% year-on-year to 403,424 metric tons in July 2026, reversing a 5.1% increase in June. The decline was attributed to unfavorable weather conditions in northern Chile that disrupted production, as well as maintenance work at major mining operations. The sharp drop in output from Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, added to concerns over tightening global copper supplies.
2026-08-31