But if workers at the BHP Billiton-owned Escondida copper mine in Chile - the world's biggest - decide to strike in February over collective contract talks, copper could get a price boost. Labour talks at Escondida are seen as a benchmark for the copper industry at large. "At Escondida alone, over 1.1 million tonnes is at risk should negotiators fail to reach agreement on a new long-term labour contract," Barclays analyst Dane Davis said in a note.
But if workers at the BHP Billiton-owned Escondida copper mine in Chile - the world's biggest - decide to strike in February over collective contract talks, copper could get a price boost. Labour talks at Escondida are seen as a benchmark for the copper industry at large. "At Escondida alone, over 1.1 million tonnes is at risk should negotiators fail to reach agreement on a new long-term labour contract," Barclays analyst Dane Davis said in a note.