World copper mine output up 21 pct 1999-2008 -ICSG

LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) - World copper mine production rose 21 percent between 1999 and
2008 to 15.5 Million tonnes, the International Copper Study Group said on Friday.

China and India's annual refined production more than tripled over the full 10-year
period, increasing by 2.6 million tonnes to 3.8 million tonnes and by 470,000 tonnes to
675,000 tonnes respectively.

"Significant increases also occurred in Chile, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russian
Federation and Zambia, that together added around 1 million tonnes of annual world refined
production," the Lisbon-based group said in a release.

"In the United States, which had been the leading world producer in 1998, refined
production fell by 41 percent -- 865,000 tonnes -- during the 10-year period, and it slipped
to fourth position as a world producer of refined copper. Refined production in the EU-15
countries rose by 5 percent."

Chinese consumption grew by about 3.7 million tonnes between 1999 and 2008.

"The global growth rate over the period excluding China was only 0.1 percent," ICSG said.

Following is a table on world refined copper usage and supply trends for the 10 year
between 1999 and 2008. Data is in thousands of tonnes.

Year 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
World Mine Production 12,775 13,203 13,633 13,577 13,757 14,594 14,924 14,990 15,464 15,458
World Mine Capacity 13,807 14,257 14,502 15,163 15,318 16,042 16,814 17,164 18,146 18,824
Mine Capacity Util. (%) 92.5 92.6 94.0 89.5 89.8 91.0 88.8 87.3 85.2 82.1
Primary Refined Prod. 2,439 12,696 13,746 13,456 13,487 13,858 14,412 14,682 15,201 15,548
Secondary Refined Prod. 2,139 2,100 1
World Refined Prod. 14,578 14,796 15,638 15,354 15,273 15,928 16,573 17,295 17,944 18,245
(Secondary + Primary)
World Refinery Capacity 16,995 17,145 17,760 18,320 18,804 19,179 20,250 20,629 21,614 22,562
Refineries Cap. Util.(%) 85.8 86.3 88.1 83.8 81.2 83.0 81.8 83.8 83.0 80.9
World Refined Usage (1) 14,294 15,138 14,946 15,231 15,716 16,839 16,673 17,042 18,175 18,007
Refined Stocks 1,634 1,291 1,992 2,048 1,780 923 867 1,131 1,027 1,164
End of Period
Period Stock Change 126 -344 702 55 -267 -857 -56 264 -104 137
Refined Balance (2) 284 -342 692 123 -443 -912 -100 253 -231 238

Notes
Due to the nature of statistical reporting, the published data should be considered as
preliminary since some figures are currently based on estimates and could change.
(1) Based on EU apparent usage
(2) Surplus or deficit is calculated using total refined production minus refined usage

(Reporting by Pratima Desai; editing by Peter Blackburn)