Zambia's copper output down 13 pct pct yr/yr in Jan

LUSAKA, Mar 16 (Reuters) - Copper production in Zambia, Africa's largest producer of the metal, fell 13 percent to 54,518 tonnes in January 2010 from 62,621 tonnes in the same month last year, the central bank said on Tuesday.

Copper exports for the month of January 2010 increased to 56,676 tonnes versus 55,199 in January 2009, Zambia's central bank, the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) said in a statement.

Cobalt production in January 2010 shot up to 734 tonnes from 367 tonnes in January last year and exports also increased to 731 tonnes from 356 tonnes in 2009.

(Reporting by Chris Mfula) (For more Africa cover visit: http://af.reuters.com -- To comment on this story email: [e-mail]) Keywords: MINING ZAMBIA/ ([e-mail]; [phone]; Reuters Messaging: [e-mail].) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.