Antofagasta Minerals Boosts Copper Output

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Written by Amir Richani for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Chilean miner Antofagasta produced 152,000 tonnes of copper in third quarter and expects to meet its 2026 production guidance. The company also announced its 2027 production guidance, expecting growing volumes from key operations.

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Antofagasta's Copper Output

Antofagasta Minerals reported copper output of 152,000 tonnes in the third quarter, its strongest quarterly output so far in 2026, bringing total output to 437,000 tonnes between January and September. With these volumes, the company expects to meet its 2026 copper production guidance of 625,000 to 655,000 tonnes.

"During this quarter, we increased the Group's production by 7%, reaching 151,900 tonnes, even though Minera Los Pelambres faced the impact of a severe weather front, the likes of which had not been seen before in the Coquimbo region. This demonstrated the operation's resilience in safely resuming production. Furthermore, it was able to ship concentrate inventories that had accumulated during the previous period," reported Iván Arriagada, chief executive officer of Antofagasta Minerals.

For 2027, the mining company expects copper output of 630,000 to 690,000 tonnes, driven by higher grades from the Los Pelambres mine in Chile.

Besides copper, Antofagasta also produced 44,300 ounces of gold and 2,900 tonnes of molybdenum across its operations in Q3, allowing the company to reach volumes of 137,000 ounces of gold and 9,000 tonnes of molybdenum in the first nine months of the year.

Looking ahead, Antofagasta expects its projects at Los Pelambres and Centinela in Chile to help grow the company's copper output by 30% by the end of the decade.

Industrial Info Resources data show 29 copper projects from Antofagasta Minerals in Chile and the United States, representing investments of US$10 billion. Of those, 11 projects are focused on Los Pelambres and Centinela mines, corresponding to expansions, upgrades, and additions, amounting to US$2.35 billion in investments.

Readers can find more information on these developments in the Industrial Info Resources Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Plant and Project databases, which offers details--including construction schedules, investment values and necessary equipment--in a series of plant profiles and project reports.

"Construction of our major projects at Centinela and Los Pelambres is progressing well, with both in their final phases. We expect them to be commissioned next year, as originally planned," added Arriagada.

Centinela's Labor Strike

On October 18, Minera Centinela announced it had reached a new contract agreement with two labor unions, ending the strike that began on October 7. The two unions accounted for 22% of Centinela's direct workforce. The new contract runs for 36 months and includes financial benefits for union members.

"This agreement is a positive outcome for Centinela and its workers. It shows that we can overcome differences through responsible dialogue, while fully respecting the autonomy of each union and our ability to reach independent agreements that consider the priorities of each organization," stated Nicolás Rivera, general manager of Minera Centinela.

Key Takeaways

• Antofagasta Minerals reported copper output of 152,000 tonnes in Q3.
• For 2027, the mining company expects output between 630,000 and 690,000 tonnes of copper.
• Projects at Los Pelambres and Centinela mines are expected to increase Antofagasta's production by 30% by the end of the decade.

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).