Introduction: BHP Billiton's Escondida Copper Mine in northern Chile produced 327,863 tons of copper in the first half of this year. The mine is the largest copper mine in the world.

BHP Billiton's Escondida Copper Mine in northern Chile produced 327,863 tons of copper in the first half of this year. The mine is the largest copper mine in the world.

In the first half of the year, the output of copper concentrate in Escondida Copper Mine was 237,891 tons, which was 35.7% lower than that of the previous year, while the output of cathode copper was 89,972 tons, which was 47.1% lower than that of the previous year.

The decline in production was mainly affected by strikes. A strike organized by trade unions in the first quarter resulted in output disruption for up to 40 days.

But the latest data show that output has recovered rapidly since the end of the strike in late March, jumping from 97,103 tons in the first quarter to 230,760 tons in the second quarter.

No pay agreement was reached at the end of the strike, which means new negotiations between the two sides will take place in the coming months.

The decline in output caused by the strike reduced company profits by 91% to $50 million in the first half, despite a 22% rise in average copper prices to $2.61 per pound.