SANTIAGO: A two-week strike at one of Chile's busiest ports is blocking shipments of some 9,000 tons of copper each day, along with prized fruit exports, mining officials said Thursday.
Officials said the labor stoppage at the Angamos de Mejillones port in northern Chile was spreading, as workers at several other ports across the country joined the strike in solidarity.
Labor leaders said the striking workers are seeking better working conditions.
The world's biggest copper producer, Chile churns out 5.6 million tonnes of copper each year -- roughly a third of global production.
About half of its copper is produced by state mining concern Codelco, while the rest is mined by various smaller private mining companies.
Officials said that the shipping disruption now is being felt in Chile's produce sector, delaying the shipment of perishable fruit at the nation's ports.
<Center><b><i>Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2013</b></i></center>
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