Maravi

Copper exports rise for 1st quarter

Copper exports rise for 1st quarter
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Fri 23 Apr. 2010, 04:50 CAT

COPPER production in the country in the first quarter of this year jumped to 174,407 tonnes compared with 170,948 tonnes produced during the same period last year.

According to fortnight statistics by Bank of Zambia (BoZ), copper exports in the first quarter rose to 173,421 tonnes versus 153,306 tonnes exported in the same period last year.

BoZ stated that cobalt production in the three months to March 31, 2010 jumped to 1,921 tonnes from 1,081 tonnes last year.

Correspondingly, exports of cobalt increased to 1,905 tonnes from the 1,251 tonnes exported during the first quarter of 2009.

Copper mining is the country’s economic stay accounting for 63 per cent of the foreign exchange earnings.

With resumption of production at China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group Corporation Luanshya Copper Mines (CLM), commencement of production at the Konkola Deep Mining Project and ramp up at Lumwana Mining Company, copper production in the country is expected to surge.

Labels: BOZ, COBALT, COPPER

posted by MrK @ 2:59 PM