Chile Copper Production Falls 2.5% YoY in September

2016-10-28 13:10 By Joana Ferreira 1 min. read

Chile's copper production dropped 2.5 percent to 461 thousand of tonnes in September 2016 from 466.9 thousand of tonnes in the same month of the previous year, after Los Bronces workers went on a brief strike that month while state-owned Codelco's Chuquicamata and Freeport-McMoran Inc's El Abra had to suspend operations following two fatal accidents.

By company size, companies with more than 400 workers saw their production decrease by 4.1 percent; and those with 7 to 80 workers recorded a 15.5 percent fall in production.

Considering the first nine months of the year, copper production decreased 3.9 percent to 4.14 million of tonnes compared to 4.31 million of tonnes the same period of 2015.



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