The vulnerability of major industrial materials to even short-term disruptions is highlighted by an article on the woes of Codelco Copper, the world’s largest copper producer. A two-week strike at three mines in Chile has reduced the company’s output by 41 percent (19,000 tons), costing it $100 million as of April 29.

Copper prices reached record highs in April after increasing 22 percent due to investors’ concerns that labor disputes throughout Latin America would continue to disrupt production.