China's top copper producer halts output

The firm remains in talks with the government to halt only smelting and not refining operations to minimize losses

Jiangxi Coppe, China’s largest producer, is halting all output in the province after the local government ordered the curbs to reduce pollution, a company official said Tuesday.

The smelter received the order on Monday evening to stop production for at least a week before a further assessment based on local pollution levels, the official said, asking not to be identified because of company rules. 

The firm, which has 1.02 million metric tons of annual capacity in the southeastern province, remains in talks with the government to halt only smelting and not refining operations to minimize losses, according to the official.