Table 2.4
Average Copper Ore Grade Processed in Chile by Processing Type
Unit: % · Cochilco, Anuario Cochilco 2025 · 2000 to 2025
| Series | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concentrator plant | 1.38 | 1.34 | 1.22 | 1.18 | 1.21 | 1.17 | 1.19 | 1.05 | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.92 | 0.87 | 0.85 | 0.89 | 0.9 | 0.86 | 0.74 | 0.74 | 0.73 | 0.79 | 0.77 | 0.74 | 0.71 | 0.69 | 0.71 | 0.69 |
| Heap leach | 1.13 | 1.1 | 0.95 | 0.92 | 0.89 | 0.84 | 0.83 | 0.78 | 0.69 | 0.68 | 0.67 | 0.65 | 0.66 | 0.66 | 0.67 | 0.63 | 0.59 | 0.59 | 0.51 | 0.54 | 0.55 | 0.52 | 0.49 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 0.45 |
| ROM and/or dump leach | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | 0.47 | 0.29 | 0.43 | 0.43 | 0.43 | 0.49 | 0.41 | 0.43 | 0.4 | 0.39 | 0.36 | 0.34 | 0.32 | 0.3 | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.31 | 0.3 | 0.29 |
| Chile average | 1.29 | 1.24 | 1.1 | 1.07 | 1.09 | 1.05 | 1.06 | 0.87 | 0.74 | 0.76 | 0.75 | 0.7 | 0.72 | 0.71 | 0.72 | 0.69 | 0.63 | 0.63 | 0.61 | 0.64 | 0.64 | 0.62 | 0.6 | 0.58 | 0.61 | 0.58 |
Notes of the table
- (1) Calculado como promedio ponderado según el mineral procesado en cada operación. / Calculated as weighted average based on ore processed at each operation.
Source stated in the table
Elaborado por la Comisión Chilena del Cobre (COCHILCO), en base a información reportada por las empresas mediante la Encuesta Minera de Producción, Agua y Energía (EMPAE). / Prepared by the Chilean Copper Commission (COCHILCO), based on information reported by mining companies through the Mining Production, Water and Energy Survey (EMPAE).
Source: Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco), Cochilco, Anuario Cochilco 2025 (XLSX), 2026. Read on Oct 6, 2026.
n.d.: no data · n.a.: not applicable · “< 1”: less than one unit.