LONDON (Reuters) -Chilean miner Antofagasta ( ANFGF ) posted a nearly 60% increase in half-year core earnings on Thursday, on higher production and sales of its copper.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the first six months of the year rose to $2.2 billion from $1.39 billion last year, in line with analysts' consensus expectations.

Antofagasta ( ANFGF ), majority owned by Chile's Luksic family, said it would distribute 16.6 cents per share to its shareholders, up from an interim dividend of 7.9 cents last year.

The company is expanding output of copper, a critical material for the power and construction industries as well as green energy transition applications.

CEO Ivan Arriagada on Thursday said the company expects more than 30% growth in output in the medium term.