Chile June Copper Exports Rise To $2.76B Vs $2.28B Year Ago

SANTIAGO, Jul 15, 2010 (Dow Jones Commodities News Select via Comtex) -- The value of Chile's copper exports in June rose to $2.76 billion from $2.28 billion in the same month the previous year, the central bank reported Thursday.

The rise was mostly due to higher international copper prices.

Chile's overall mining exports, including molybdenum, iron, silver, iodine and lithium, rose to $3.12 billion in June from $2.55 billion a year earlier.

According to state copper commission Cochilco, spot copper prices averaged $2.95 a pound on the London Metal Exchange in June, significantly higher than the $2.27 a pound the metal averaged the same month last year.

Accumulated copper exports for the first six months of the year rose to $18.2 billion from $11.1 billion, while overall mining exports increased to $19.9 billion from $12.5 billion.

Chile is the world's largest copper producer, accounting for about a third of global production. It is also one of the world's biggest producers of iodine, lithium and molybdenum.