Exports and local sales of copper stood at 871,956 tonnes, while sales of cobalt were recorded at 44,654 tonnes.

BHP recently struck a deal with Chilean workers at its massive Escondida mine.

Aluminum has climbed as major economies recover from the pandemic. Futures in London are up almost 35% in 2021 to $2,650 a tonne, the highest in around a decade.

A bus in the Peruvian Andes reportedly transporting workers at MMG's Las Bambas copper mine plunged off a cliff on Friday.

The Gibellini vanadium project, in Nevada, the Manitoba-based Minago nickel project and certain battery metals royalties will be stand-alone companies.

President Felix Tshisekedi said in May that some mining contracts could be reviewed because of concerns they are not sufficiently benefiting Congo.