Chile: Copper Production Costs Increase as Output Drops

October 27, 2023--Researched by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco) says copper production costs at Chile's largest mines have increased significantly over the past year. Cochilco cited a decline in Chilean copper production and steeper service costs, such as higher electricity and materials prices, as the major reasons.

Cochilco released a presentation this week detailing the rising cost of copper production at 22 Chilean mines. According to the organization, copper output costs increased by 39.6 U.S. cents per pound in the first half of the year, when compared with the same period last year, to close at 198.8 U.S. cents per pound.