Global aluminium production fell by 1.0% last year in its first annual contraction since 2009.

The South African miner could sell up to a a 30% interest in its Salares Norte gold project.

Caldas Gold, the new miner’s name, will initially have the same executive team as the parent company, but the project team will be different.

BHP hits record throughput at 1.2mt Escondida mine, expects full year stoppages related to political upheaval in the country would only cost 7,000 tonnes.

A resolution to the trade dispute may prompt buyers including China to rebuild their stockpiles, helping fuel the rebound in prices, Mining Minister Baldo Prokurica said.

The world’s top copper producer says four of its unions were victims of inflated policy prices.