In January-April 2003/2002 Kazakhmys (Kazakhstan) decreased copper production to 134,400 t

/REUTERS, Almaty, Tatyana Seroshtanova, May 5, 03/ - Kazakhstan copper corporation Kazakhmys in January-April of 2003 decreased the volume of refined copper production to 134,400 tons from 144,700 tons within similar period of last year, company informed. Kazakhmys's press-secretary Vladislav Nikolayev said over the telephone from Zheskazgan that decrease of production had been planned by the company. "Within four months refined copper production was planned in the volume of 132.7 th. tons, and received 134.4 th. tons. So, we have gone over quota", - Nikolayev explained. According to the press-secretary's words, average price of copper at the world market in April of this year was $1,587 for ton in comparison with $1,590 for ton in April 2002. Before the corporation informed about its intention to remain volumes of refined copper production in the year 2003 on last year's level - 432,000 tons. Commodity output decreased within the first four months of this year to KZT39.339 bn. from KZT39.964 bn. within similar period of 2002. Below is comparable data about production of separate types of production of corporation Kazakhmys: --------------------------------------------------------- January January January April March April 2003 2003 2002 ------------------------------ ------- ------- ------- Refined copper (th. tons) 134.4 99.2 144.7 Zinc in concentrate (th. tons) 28.1 21.1 20.3 Coal (m. tons) 2.4 1.8 2.4 Ore (m. tons) 13.6 10.1 13.5 Silver in granules (tons) 198 147 227 Gold bullions (kg) 885 722 1,570 Copper rod (th. tons) 18.3 16.7 20.8 --------------------------------------------------------- Corporation Kazakhmys, which takes the ninth place in the world by volumes of copper production, exports the half of its production to China and the other half - to European countries. Shareholders of Corporation Kazakhmys, which produces up to 90% of total volume of Kazakhstan copper, are South-Korean Samsung (25.33% of shares), Samsung Hong Kong Limited (17.22%), Republican state enterprise "Information registration center" (24.65%), Future Capital LLP (10.00%), ABN AMRO bank Kazakhstan CJSC (9.51%). The stake of other shareholders is 13.29% of shares. [2003-05-05]