May 16 (Bloomberg) -- Chile, the world's biggest producer of copper, said that exports surged in April after dwindling stockpiles of the metal and higher demand pushed prices to a 16- year high.

Copper exports increased to $1.342 billion from $1.257 billion in April 2004, the Santiago-based Central Bank said on its web site this morning.

To contact the reporter on this story: Heather Walsh in Santiago, Chile hlwalsh@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 16, 2005 08:33 EDT