Chile's copper exports rose sharply in February from a year earlier

Chile's copper export revenue rose sharply in February, according to data released by the country's central bank, BNamericas quoted Reuters as saying.

Chile's copper exports were $3.879 billion in February, up 65 percent from a year earlier.

International copper prices rose above $9,000 a tonne in February for the first time since 2011 as the global economy recovered and demand for the metal grew in key applications such as construction and manufacturing.

In February, higher copper exports boosted Chile's overall exports to $7.071 billion, helping to achieve a trade surplus of $1.516 billion.

Chile's imports, meanwhile, reached $5.555 billion in February, up 31 percent from a year earlier.