(Kitco News) - According to Cochilco, annual copper production in Chile, the world’s largest copper producing country, declined by 5.4%, from 5,625 thousand tonnes in 2021 to 5,323 thousand tonnes in 2022.
Chile’s state-owned copper miner Codelco, the world’s largest copper mining company, saw a 10.6% drop in year-on-year production to 1,446 thousand tonnes in 2022.
BHP’s Escondida, the world’s largest copper mine, saw production in 2022 grew 4.3% to 1,054,000 tonnes. The company said that Escondida copper production increased primarily due to higher concentrator feed grade.
The world’s second biggest Collahuasi copper mine, a joint venture between Anglo American Plc and Glencore, reported that its 2022 production of 571,000 tonnes declined by 9.4% over 2021.
Codelco’s El Teniente mine is third and produced 405,000 tonnes of copper in 2022, down 12% from 2021.
Anglo American Sur is fourth with 311,000 tonnes of copper produced in 2022, down 16% over 2021.
Codelco’s Radomiro Tomic mine saw an 8% decline y-o-y and sits fifth with 301,000 tonnes of copper mined in 2022.
Seven out of the top ten largest copper mines in Chile saw a decline in red metal output in 2022 while two mines achieved production growth and one mine reported production in line with the previous year.
The complete list is on the chart.
Largest copper operations in Chile, ktonnes, 2022 vs. 2021. Source: Cochilco.
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