KME sees return to pre-crisis copper level in 2013

MILAN, April 22 (Reuters) - KME Group (KME.MI), a leading maker of copper and copper alloy products, is likely to return to pre-crisis levels of copper consumption and product output in 2013 with metal use and output rising steadily in 2010 and 2011.

"This year, KME foresees a 10-12 percent growth compared with 2009 which remains the worst year in history," Domenico Cova, chief executive of KME Group's main copper unit, told Reuters on Thursday in an emailed response to questions.

"In 2011, we can expect a confirmation of growth with a pace of about 8-10 percent. But we'll have to wait probably until 2013 to return to the levels of 2008," Cova said, referring to both consumption of copper by the group and its output.

KME's output of copper, alloy and special products fell 23 percent last year to 437,000 tonnes, hammered by the global economic crisis. [ID:nLDE62O1VH] (Reporting by Svetlana Kovalyova; editing by James Jukwey)