Workers at Antofagasta Minerals’ Centinela copper mine in Chile ended a strike that began on October 7.
On Sunday, October 18, two unions announced that members had ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The unions represented more than 700 workers. The agreement received 94.49% approval.
The mine produced more than 240,000 metric tons of copper in 2025. The labor dispute had contributed to market tightness and supported global copper prices. The risk of supply disruptions in Chile, the world’s top copper producer, drew close attention from commodity investors, particularly as other labor negotiations took place in the region.
Antofagasta said it maintained normal production throughout the stoppage. The strike’s resolution removes a significant source of market uncertainty and ends a bullish catalyst that traders had been monitoring.