Copper exports grew 8.8% between January and July of 2008

SANTIAGO.- According to the Central Bank, copper exports rose 13.8% in value during July compared to the same month last year.  In total, copper shipments reportedly reached a total of approximately $25.058 billion U.S. dollars during the first seven months of the year, 8.8% more than the amount registered for the same time period in 2007.

Today, the Central Bank announced that copper exports had surged 13.8% in value during July when compared to the same month in 2007.

The central bank indicated that shipments had reached a value of approximately $4.031 billion U.S. dollars in July of this year, compared to the $3.542 billion U.S. dollars reported in July of 2007.

July’s exports also exceeded the $3.548 billion U.S. dollars in exports reported during June.

The copper industry in Chile is run by the state-owned giant Codelco and the foreign-owned corporation BHB Billiton.  The sector also includes participation from Antofogasta Minerals, Anglo American and Freeport-McMoRan & Gold Inc., among others.