Exports of copper concentrates from Chile and Peru

摘要

The largest supplier to the custom concentrates market is BHP Billiton's Escondida and its exports fell slightly during 2016, although less than production, suggesting a degree of stockpiling. Continuing the trend observed in previous years, Escondida's exports to China increased significantly by more than 300,000dmt, accounting for 52% of its exports compared to 39% in 2015, while exports from Escondida decreased to most other regions. This trend is believed to be linked to the company's interest in relying on quarterly-fixations or index-linked terms for the pricing of copper concentrates, pricing strategies that we believe have been more widely accepted in China than in other consuming regions.