Copper output in Chile, the world's largest producer of the metal, edged down in March, data from copper commission Cochilco showed on Friday, as production slid at state-run miner Codelco COBRE.UL but rose at other major mines in the country.

Output at Codelco, the top global supplier of the red metal, slid 10.1% to total107,300 metric tons in March, while at the BHP-controlled BHP.AX Escondida mine, which holds the world's largest known deposit, output rose 9.7% to reach 101,400 tons.

At the Collahuasi mine, which is jointly run by miners Glencore GLEN.N and Anglo American AAL.L, the data showed a production jump of 16.1% to total 49,800 tons.

Overall, however, the country's copper output slipped 0.7% from a year earlier to settle at 433,300 tons, according to Cochilco.

Source: Reuters