SANTIAGO, April 8 (Reuters) - The CEO of Chile's

Codelco, Ruben Alvarado, said on Tuesday that the company aims

to bring its copper production to the upper end of its estimated

range this year, now expecting to reach 1.39 million metric

tons.

Speaking to Reuters at the CRU World Copper Summit in

Santiago, Alvarado said that the state-owned company, the

world's largest copper producer, plans to return to the bond

market but is evaluating the right timing.