Chile’s copper production remained firmly in negative territory in May 2026, though the year‑on‑year decline showed a modest improvement compared with the previous month, according to data updated on 30 June 2026.
Copper output in May fell 12.9% compared with May a year earlier, softening from a 13.8% year‑on‑year contraction recorded in April 2026. The figures indicate that while Chile’s copper sector continues to face significant pressure, the pace of decline has eased slightly month over month.
The data, which compare each month’s production to the same month a year earlier, suggest that conditions in the world’s largest copper‑producing country remain challenging. However, the marginal improvement between April and May may be watched closely by market participants looking for signs that the downturn in Chilean copper production is stabilizing.