The global copper market is expected to see a deficit of about 325 000 t this year and a surplus of 155 000 t in 2023, the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) said on Wednesday.

“Continued Covid-19 related restrictions and workforce absenteeism, operational and geotechnical issues, strikes, water restrictions in Chile, lower than expected head grades and community actions in Peru have constrained mine output at a number of operations this year,” it said in a release.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was trading around $7 363 a tonne on Wednesday having declined more than 30% on growing recession fears since scaling a record peak of $10 845 in March.

World apparent refined copper usage is expected to increase by about 2.2% in 2022 and 1.4% in 2023, the ICSG said.

“A deterioration in the global economic outlook, mainly as a consequence of elevated energy prices and high inflation has resulted in a downward revision to refined usage growth for both 2022 and 2023,” the Group said.

World refined copper production is forecast to rise by about 2.8% in 2022 and 3.3% in 2023, the ICSG said.