SANTIAGO: Chile exported $2.398 billion worth of copper in July, down 24% from $3.171 billion in the same month of last year, figures released Friday by the country’s central bank showed
Exports have been hit by a fall in copper prices, which averaged $2.48/lb during July, down 23% from $3.22/lb in 2014.
Exports of cathode fell 19% to $1.102 billion, while export of concentrate fell 23% to $1.023 billion.
Copper exports during the first seven months of the year totaled $19.352 billion, down 13% the year-ago period. Exports of cathode fell 16% to $8.796 billion, while exports of concentrates fell 6% to $8.898 billion.
Chile is the world’s largest producer of copper, with production set to total 5.8 million mt this year.