Supervisors at BHP’s Escondida, the world’s largest copper mine, plan to strike at 8 a.m. local time Wednesday after government-mediated talks failed to produce a contract; the union represents about 1,020 workers. Chile’s August copper output fell 12.8% from a year earlier to 369,500 tons, the lowest monthly total since February 2011, and a landslide at Codelco’s El Teniente killed two contractors. S&P Global projects copper demand will rise from 28 million metric tons in 2025 to 42 million by 2040, while the IEA still sees primary supply about 25% short of requirements in 2035. The article also cites other hurdles, including China’s sulphuric acid export ban, long permitting timelines in Chile and social conflicts in Peru.
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