BASE METALS

Chile's copper production falls in Q1

Grade and weather partly responsible

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State copper company Codelco saw a 14.4% fall in production to 500,000t from 584,000t a year ago, with declines recorded across its portfolio of operations.

The BHP-controlled Escondida also saw a 15% fall in production to 367,000t from 432,000t in the 2018 period, while Collahausi saw a 7.6% decline to 167,000t. The Los Pelambres mine of Antofagasta Minerals saw a 27.4% increase while Anglo American Sur posted an 11.2% gain.

Lower grades together with climatic conditions including snowfall and torrential rain earlier in the year, were partly responsible for production declines.

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