Chile’s Antofagasta on Wednesday reported record copper production of 770 000 tons for 2019, which was at the top-end of its revised guidance and 6.2% higher than in 2018.
The 2019 performance came despite civil unrest parts of the country, which disrupted supplies to the miner’s flagship Los Pelambres mine during the final quarter of the year.
Antofagasta’s initial guidance for the year was to produce between 750 000 tons and 790 000 tons, but in November that was reduced to a range of 750 000 tons to 770 000 tons.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, production decreased by 5.8% in the December quarter, owing to disruptions to mine supplies at the Los Pelambres mine, lower grades at Centinela and a strike at Antucoya.