(Minews) - Chile’s copper production fell by 3.2% year-on-year in January 2014, as a result of reduced output at the Escondida and Los Pelambres operations.
The country produced 459,500 tonnes of copper in the month, compared with 475,100 tonnes a year earlier, according to Chile’s national copper commission, Cochilco.
BHP Billiton’s Escondida mine produced 87,900 tonnes of copper in January, down 23.1% from the same month last year.
Los Pelambres ended the period with 33,800 tonnes, from 39,900 tonnes in the same comparison.
Codelco, the largest copper producer in Chile, reported a 7.9% increase in output year-on-year in January at 144,700 tonnes.
Meanwhile, the company’s main division, Chuquicamata reported decreased production at 62,900 tonnes, from 64,000 tonnes in January 2013.
Coldeco’s El Teniente made up for the decreased production at Chuquicamata, however, by reporting output of 34,800 tonnes in January, from 22,900 tonnes in the first month of 2012.
Collahuasi and Anglo American Sur also reported increased production in January.
Collahuasi, owned by a consortium comprised of Anglo American (44%), Glencore Xstrata (44%) and other investors, reported a sharp increase in output, with production at 36,900 tonnes in January 2014, from 22,200 tonnes a year earlier.
Anglo American Sur produced 43,200 tonnes of copper, up 16.1% from January 2013.
