Chile's Codelco output seen down in 2007-newspaper

SANTIAGO, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Citing an internal report, Chile's El Mercurio newspaper said Thursday that state copper company Codelco, the world's largest copper miner, likely saw output fall by nearly 100,000 tonnes in 2007.

Including its stake in the El Abra mine, Codelco likely produced 1.69 million tonnes of copper in 2007, the El Mercurio newspaper reported, compared to output of 1.78 million tonnes in 2006.

Codelco could not be reached for immediate comment.

Codelco has seen its output suffer in recent years as ore grades fell at its biggest mines and as it ramped up other projects.

New output is seen coming on line in 2008 and in March its new Gaby mine enters production. (Reporting by Pav Jordan; Editing by John Picinich)