According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru (MINEM), copper production in Peru, the world’s second largest copper producing country, amounted to 241,801 tonnes in June 2023, up 21.8% compared to June 2022 (198,467 tonnes).
Anglo American’s new Quellaveco mine (June 2023 production was 28,277 tonnes compared to zero production in June 2022) and MMG’s Las Bambas mine (June 2023 production was 26,595 tonnes compared to 16,336 tonnes in June 2022) contributed the most to Peru’s copper production growth in June.
At the company level, Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde S.A.A. sits first with an 18.0% share in total Peru’s copper output, followed by Compañía Minera Antamina S.A. (15.8%) and Southern Perú Copper Corporation (13.6%).
MINEM added that at the regional level, Arequipa is first with an 18.2% share in the country’s total copper production, followed by Moquegua (16.2%) and Áncash (16.1%).
In January-June 2023, Peru produced 1,318,276 tonnes of copper, which is an increase of 17.6% compared to January-June 2022 (1,120,865 tonnes).
The ministry also noted that Anglo American’s new Quellaveco copper mine began commercial production in September 2022. In January-June 2023, the mine produced 137,781 tonnes of copper (January-June 2022: no production).
Source : KITCO
