Chile's economic activity fell slightly in December last year. Copper production fell by 8.7%.

Chile's central bank announced that (IMACEC), an index of economic activity, fell 0.4 per cent in December 2020 from a year earlier. The reason is that the world's largest copper producer has taken stricter prevention and control measures to prevent new outbreaks around the end of the year holiday.

The IMACEC index covers 90 per cent of the country's economic activity.

Despite the escalation of restrictions, holiday business remained a bright spot, the bank said. However, the decline in service activities and important mining activities is a drag on economic growth.

(INE), Chile's national statistics bureau, announced last week that copper production, the country's economic engine, fell 8.7 per cent in December. Previously, copper production was not much affected because mine production was not interrupted during the outbreak.

The overall IMACEG index fell by 6% in 2020, and months of blockade have had a serious impact on the South American country's economy. The outbreak occurred in Chile in March and peaked in May and June.

However, since late November, the number of COVID-19 cases in Chile began to climb, and the government had to impose restrictions and weekend blockades in the capital in December and January this year.