Latest News Stream - Copper Production

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.

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.

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.

Chile's copper production rose 5.1% year-on-year to 447,294 metric tons in June 2026, rebounding from a 12.9% decline in May. The increase was driven by higher ore processing at the country's major mining companies. The recovery in Chile, the world's largest copper producer, helped ease concerns over tightening global copper supply. Meanwhile, Chile's Mining Production Index rose 6% from a year earlier, supported by a 4.6% increase in metallic mining, a 14.5% rise in non-metallic mining, and a 4.3% gain in energy resources production.

Chile’s copper production fell 12.9% year-on-year to 423,623 metric tons in May 2026, following a 13.8% decline in the previous month. The Mining Production Index dropped 10.6% year-on-year, driven by weaker activity in metallic mining, which fell 13.0%, mainly due to lower copper extraction and processing. The decline in Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, increased concerns over tightening global copper supply.

Chile’s copper production dropped 13.8% year-on-year to 399,954 metric tons in April 2026, following a 9% decline in the previous month. Output was pressured by a high comparison base and lower ore grades at major producers, weighing on extraction and processing activity. The decline in Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, heightened concerns about tightening global copper supply.

Chile’s copper production dropped 4.8% year over year to 378,554 metric tons in February, marking its lowest level since March 2017. On a rolling 12-month basis, output has now declined for seven consecutive months, largely due to challenges in projects targeting higher-grade ore. Although no major disruptions were reported during the month, seasonal factors such as heavy rains in northern Chile and rough seas can hinder logistics during the summer. Chile’s downturn is significant given its dominant role in global copper supply, amplifying concerns about tightening availability across the market. Those constraints were a key factor behind the surge in prices to record levels in January. Compared to January, February production was down 8.5%.

Chile’s state copper commission, Cochilco, cut its 2025 output growth forecast to 1.5% from 3% previously, citing a June production drop at BHP’s Escondida mine and Collahuasi. Production in the world’s top copper exporter is still expected to reach 5.58 million metric tons this year, with average copper prices for 2025–2026 maintained at $4.30/lb. Cochilco warned the June decline was “a turning point” and that a deadly collapse at Codelco’s El Teniente mine could pose a “significant risk of supply disruption.” For 2026, it kept growth at 3% but lowered output estimates to 5.75 million tons. Globally, prices are expected to stay high due to limited concentrate supply and strong demand, especially from China and other emerging economies, with demand for refined copper set to hit 27 million tons in 2026. China is projected to consume 15.7 million tons in 2025, while India’s demand is expected to rise 7.5%, driven by industrialization and the energy transition.

Copper production in Chile increased 13.3 percent year-on-year to 512.7 thousand of tonnes in October of 2017, following a 4.4 percent rise in September. It is the the fourth straight month of growth and the strongest gain since January of 2015 as demand from China remained strong and copper prices reached the highest level in three years.

Copper production in Chile jumped 10.2 percent year-on-year to 508.6 thousand of tonnes in August of 2017, accelerating from a downwardly revised 5.1 percent rise in July. It is the second straight month of expansion in copper output and the strongest since January of 2015, mainly due to strong demand from China, the world's biggest consumer of the metal.

Copper production in Chile rose 5.2 percent year-on-year to 473.2 thousand of tonnes in July 2017, recovering from a 5.7 percent decline in June. It is the first expansion in copper output after six straight months of falls and the strongest since January 2015, mainly due higher demand from China, a key export market.

Copper production decreased 1.8 percent year-on-year to 429.2 thousand of tonnes in April of 2017, following a 23.1 percent fall in March. It is the lowest contraction since January, as operations slowly restarted at the biggest copper mine Escondida, after a strike during February and March.

Copper production in Chile shrank 16.7 percent year-on-year to 377 thousand of tonnes in February of 2017. It is the lowest output since February of 2011 as flooding have slowed mining activity in copper-rich northern region and production in major company Minera Escondida has been halted since early February due to miners strike.

Copper production in Chile fell 2.6 percent year-on-year to 452 thousand of tonnes in January of 2017, following a 3.3 percent rise in December. It is the biggest drop since October last year, as heavy rains and flooding that hit Chile have slowed mining activity in copper-rich northern region. In addition, production in major company Minera Escondida has been halted since early February when workers began a strike claiming for salaries.

Copper production in Chile rose 1.6 percent year-on-year to 504 thousand of tonnes in December of 2016, following a 1.3 percent fall in November. It was the first annual increase in four months, as a major company Minera Escondida came back to work after suspended operations for maintenance work in December last year. Considering full 2016 year, copper production contracted 3.8 percent to 5,572 thousand of tonnes from 5,794 thousand in the same period of 2015.

Copper production in Chile fell 1.3 percent year-on-year to 480 thousand of tonnes in November 2016, following a 11.1 percent drop in October. It was the third consecutive month of decline amid a suspension in operations due to maintenance work at a major company. In the first eleven months of the year, copper production contracted 4.3 percent to 5,069 thousand of tonnes from 5,298 thousand in the same period of 2015.

Copper output in Chile fell 11.1 percent year-on-year to 445.1 thousand of tonnes in October of 2016, following a 2.5 percent drop in September. It is the biggest decline since January amid a suspension in operations following two fatal accidents, technical problems and maintenance work.

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.