Growth in copper supply to slow through 2020 – ICSG

Global copper mine production growth is expected to slow to 2.5% a year through 2020, down from an average growth rate of almost 4% a year in the last five years, the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) said on Thursday. The Lisbon, Portugal-based think tank cited continued delays in project development as shifting new capacity forward, owing mainly to length of project permitting, opposition from local communities and budget or finance constraints.