SANTIAGO, Jan 9 - Chile's state copper commission, Cochilco, said Wednesday it expected average copper prices of about $3.10 per lb in 2008 amid continued tight inventories and strong demand from China.

Cochilco Executive Vice President Eduardo Titelman said copper production in Chile, the largest producer of the metal, will likely come in at 5.7 million tonnes in 2008, up 3.4 percent from 2007 as Codelco's Gaby mine enters production and output rises at BHP Billiton's Spence mine and at the Collahuasi mine controlled by Xstrata Plc and Anglo American .

Titelman said the copper market would remain tight in 2008, with demand of some 18.4 million tonnes versus output of 18.5 million tonnes. For 2009, Titelman said copper prices would likely remain strong as well, near $2.70/lb. Copper prices are currently around $3.26/lb in New York.

Source：Chilean Copper Commision