Peru's production of copper, gold, silver, lead and molybdenum rose in April, while zinc and tin output fell, the government said Thursday.
Copper production jumped 53.5% to 187,983 mt in April from 122,506 mt the year before, as higher output at Freeport-McMoRan's Cerro Verde mine, Antamina, Chinalco's Toromocho, Hudbay Minerals' Constancia deposit combined with the start-up of China Minmetals' $8.3 billion Las Bambas mine, the Energy & Mines Ministry said in a statement.
Cerro Verde produced 170,882 mt of copper through April, followed by Las Bambas (53,429 mt), Toromocho (44,185 mt) and Constancia (43,504 mt) the ministry said.
Silver gained 17.6% to 348,342 kg from 296,299 kg a year ago on the start-up of Hochschild Mining's $420 million Inmaculada mine and output gains at Antamina and Buenaventura, the ministry said. Gold production rose 5% to 12,447 kg from 11,847 kg.
Lead climbed 4% to 25,905 mt from 24,878 mt, while molybdenum production rose 43% to 2,335 mt from 1,632 mt and cadmium output at Votorantim Metais' Cajamarquilla refinery gained 14.7% to 70 mt from 61 mt.
Zinc output dropped 15.3% to 96,785 mt from 114,323 mt and on dwindling production Volcan and Milpo, the ministry said. Tin output at Minsur, the country's sole producer, fell 13% to 1,441 mt from 1,654 mt due to declining ore grades, the ministry said. Tungsten output halted at the Pasto Bueno mine.
Minerals account for about 60% of Peru's total exports. Peru is the world's third-largest copper, zinc and tin producer, No. 2 in silver and fifth-ranked in gold.
