UNITED KINGDOM April 25 2017 12:47 PM
LONDON (Scrap Register): Global copper mine production is estimated to have increased by around 4% in January 2017 year on year, with concentrate production increasing by around 5% and solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW) declining by 2%, According to the International Copper Study Group (ICSG).
The increase in world mine production was mainly due to a 25% rise in Peruvian concentrate output that benefited from new and expanded capacity that was not yet fully available in January 2016.
However, January 2017 production was 6% lower than the average production level in the 4th quarter 2016. A 22% rise in Mexican mine production (concentrate and SX-EW) that benefited from expanded capacity brought on stream during last year.
However overall growth was partially offset by a 2.5% decline in production in Chile, the world’s biggest copper mine producer. No major supply disruption occurred in January in Chile and the decline was mainly due to a reduction in SX-EW output at some mines.
Indonesian production was constrained by a temporary b an in concentrate exports that started during the month. On a regional basis, production rose by 3% in the Americas, 6% in Asia, 4% in Europe and 10% in Oceania while remaining essentially unchanged in Africa.
