Chile, the world's biggest copper producer, said Thursday its copper export returns rose 17.5 percent last year due to higher prices and mine expansions.
Copper export returns in 2003 totalled $7.367 billion, and $677 million in December, according to a Central Bank monthly report.
December and full-year copper production figures will be released on January 28. The government forecast this year's output would rise 10.7 percent to 5.49 million tonnes.
Chile's Central Bank forecast on Wednesday the average 2004 copper price would be $1.00 per lb. Benchmark March copper futures on the COMEX in New York closed 0.85 cent higher at $1.094 per lb Wednesday.
The Chilean government last month cut its forecast of 2003 copper output by 1.8 percent to 4.96 million tonnes, but the estimate is still 7.4 percent higher than 2002.
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