Peruvian export volumes of copper, zinc and molybdenum gained in March, while silver and lead shipments fell, the Central Bank has reported.
Total metals export revenue rose 17.2% to $1.97 billion from a year earlier, the bank said late Wednesday in a statement posted on its website.
Copper shipments gained 10% to 192,500 mt from 175,100 mt a year earlier, while export revenue jumped 41% to $1 billion and prices increased by 28.3% to $2.40/lb from $1.87/lb, the bank said. Higher output at mines operated by China Minmetals, Chinalco and Hudbay Minerals offset the impact of a 21-day strike at Freeport-McMoRan's Cerro Verde mine in March.
Zinc shipments rose 7.5% to 95,900 mt from 89,200 mt a year earlier while revenue increased by 63% to $173 million, according to the bank. Molybdenum shipments climbed 10.8% to 2,000 mt from 1,800 mt, while export revenue nearly doubled to $28 million.
Gold exports fell 8% to 464,600 oz from 504,500 oz a year ago, while export revenue dropped 9.3% to $572 million and prices slid 1.5% to $1,231/oz from $1,250/oz, the bank said. Silver shipments were little changed at 500,000 oz, while export revenue gained 11% to $8 million due to stronger prices.
Lead shipments fell by half to 40,200 mt from 86,000 mt, while export revenues also halved to $79 million as record flooding and landslides caused by the El Nino phenomenon curbed shipments from miners in the central Andes. Tin shipments from Minsur's San Rafael mine dropped 5.3% to 1,800 mt from 1,900 mt and revenue rose 21% to $35 million. Prices rose for both metals.
Peru is the world's second-largest copper and silver producer, third-ranked in zinc and tin and No. 5 in gold.
