Cochilco slightly lowers 2013 Chile copper output forecast

4th April 2013 By: Henry Lazenby - Creamer Media Deputy Editor: North America

SANTIAGO (miningweekly.com) – Chile should produce about 5.58-million tons of copper this year, up 2.6% from 2012 levels, as strong mining investment in the world No 1 copper producer pays off, the country's State copper commission Cochilco said on Thursday.

That is slightly down from Cochilco's January forecast of 5.59-million tons of output this year.

Cochilco sees copper prices averaging $3.57/lb this year, unchanged from its previous estimate.