Copper production in Zambia, Africa's largest producer of the metal, dropped to 824 976 t in 2012 from 881 108 t the previous year, a central bank spokesperson said on Saturday.

Copper exports rose to 903 138 t during the period from 832 145 t during the previous twelve months, spokesperson Kanguya Mayondi said.

Cobalt production fell to 5 436 t from 7 701 t, but exports of that metal increased to 10 030 t from 7 830 t, he added.