Workers at Antofagasta’s Centinela copper mine in Chile have reached a preliminary labor agreement that could end a strike lasting more than a week, easing one source of uncertainty surrounding global copper supply.
More than 700 members of the Distrito Centinela and Minera Esperanza unions began striking October 7 after contract negotiations failed.
The unions reached a preliminary collective-contract agreement following renewed negotiations and scheduled a vote by members to ratify the settlement.
Workers had sought improved contract terms and equal benefits regardless of which union employees belonged to.
Three workers also began a hunger strike October 9 as pressure increased for the parties to reach an agreement.
Antofagasta said it presented new proposals addressing key issues and improving the economic terms available to workers.
The dispute attracted attention from commodity markets because Chile is the world’s largest copper-producing country and expectations for future global supply are already tight.
The Centinela strike also occurred alongside labor uncertainty at BHP’s Escondida operation, adding to concerns about potential disruptions at major Chilean mines.
Antofagasta said Centinela maintained normal production despite the strike.
The mine produced approximately 240,400 metric tons of copper during 2025.
That means the immediate physical-market impact has remained limited.
But copper supply is becoming increasingly important as demand expands from electricity grids, renewable-energy infrastructure, electric vehicles and data centers.
AI infrastructure adds another source of electricity and grid investment at a time when developing major new copper mines can require many years.
Labor disruptions at significant producing assets can therefore amplify concerns about future availability even when short-term production continues.
The preliminary Centinela agreement reduces one of those risks.
The immediate issue to watch is ratification. Approval would formally resolve the dispute, while rejection could reopen uncertainty surrounding labor conditions at the mine.
