Copper production up a million tonnes last year

Full year 2016 estimates shows world mine copper production jumped by 5.3%, or 1 million tonnes last year to 20.16 million tonnes. According to the report the increase was mainly due to a 38% (650,000 tonnes copper) rise in Peruvian concentrate output that benefited from new and expanded capacity. Overall growth was partially offset by a 3.8% (220,000 tonnes) decline in production in Chile, the world’s biggest copper mine producer, and a 4.5% decline in the DRC.