Peru's production of copper, silver and molybdenum rose in October from a year ago, while gold, zinc, lead and tin output fell, the government said Tuesday.
Copper production jumped 37.7% to 218,685 mt in October from 158,855 mt the year before as higher output at Freeport-McMoRan's Cerro Verde mine, Chinalco's Toromocho and Hudbay Minerals' Constancia deposit combined with the startup of China Minmetals' $8.3 billion Las Bambas mine, the Energy & Mines Ministry said in a statement.
Cerro Verde produced 429,514 mt of copper through the first 10 months of 2016, followed by Las Bambas (266,177 mt), Toromocho (128,470 mt) and Constancia (112,674 mt) the ministry said.
Silver production climbed 2.2% to 376,091 kg from 367,923 kg a year ago, while molybdenum production gained 37.7% to 2,421 mt from 1,758 mt, the ministry said.
Gold production fell 1% to 12,692 kg from 12,815 kg a year ago on declines at mines operated by Newmont and Barrick, according to the ministry.
Tin output at Minsur, the country's sole producer, dropped 6.1% to 1,592 mt from 1,696 mt a year earlier, the ministry said.
Zinc output declined 2% to 121,467 mt from 123,868 mt a year ago on dwindling production at Antamina and Glencore's production cuts at its Iscaycruz mine, the ministry said. Lead slid 0.6% to 26,017 mt from 26,179 mt.
Cadmium output at Votorantim Metais' Cajamarquilla refinery gained 17% to 77 mt from 66 mt a year ago, while 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.
