Peru's production of copper, silver, lead and molybdenum rose in December, while gold, zinc and tin output fell, the government said Tuesday.
Copper production jumped 64% to 186,450 mt from 114,068 mt a year ago as higher output at Antamina, Glencore's Antapaccay and Chinalco's Toromocho combined with the startup of Hudbay Minerals' $1.7 billion Constancia mine, the Energy & Mines Ministry said in a statement.
Chinalco ramped up output at Toromocho to 182,214 mt after battling technical difficulties in 2014, while Constancia produced 106,063 mt, the ministry said.
Silver rose 19% to 13.1 million oz from 11 million oz a year ago on the startup of Hochschild Mining's $420 million Inmaculada mine and gains at Antamina, Buenaventura and Volcan, the ministry said.
Lead climbed 14.6% to 30,338 mt from 26,484 mt after El Brocal completed a $473 million expansion, while molybdenum gained 22.8% to 1,867 mt from 1,521 mt. Tungsten output at the Pasto Bueno mine rose 23% to 13 mt from 11 mt.
Gold production fell 7.8% to 378,605 oz from 410,507 oz a year ago, while zinc slid 2% to 116,778 mt from 119,179 mt, the ministry said.
Tin output at Minsur, the country's only producer, dropped 23.2% to 1,841 mt from 2,396 mt due to declining ore grades, according to the ministry.
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 No. 5 in gold.
