Zambia copper output down

Copper output in Zambia, Africa's leading producer of the metal, fell nearly 10 percent in the first four months of 2011 after some mines scaled down production due to heavy rains. Copper production between January and April fell to 242,284 tonnes from 266,373 tonnes last year, the central bank said on Thursday.
Mining industry sources said the fall reflected lower scaling output at open pit mines due to heavy rains. "This is normal and we expect that the mines should begin to catch up in the second quarter," said a mining official who did not want to be named.