April saw 121 financings close in the Canadian financial markets for C$522.7 million including 55 financings for gold totalling $207.3 million, some 40% of the April total.
China buys about half of Codelco's production and also accounts for about half of global copper consumption, which analysts estimate will be around 25 million tonnes this year.
The Chilean state-owned company recently signed some contracts for three to five years with customers in Europe, in contrast to the more standard annual deals.