The Chinese-owned Chambishi copper smelter in Zambia has slashed the guidance figure for its 2019 production of blister copper by more than 20%, Fastmarkets has learned.
The decision was prompted by new import tariffs to be applied to copper concentrates imported from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which could raise raw material costs for producers in Zambia.Chambishi is expected to produce a final total of 220,000-230,000 tonnes of blister copper and anodes in 2018, most of it for shipment to China. But output in 2019 will be 50,000-60,000 tonnes less than...