Peru hosts the world's largest silver reserves, the Peruvian National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy (SNMPE) informed.
With 120,000 metric tonnes, Peru shelters 21% of the planet's silver reserves.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earth's reserves are estimated at 570,000 metric tonnes.
Thus, the Andean country leads the ranking, followed by Australia and Poland (85,000 metric tonnes each), Chile (77,000 MT), China (43,000 MT) and Mexico (37,000 MT).
Production
Out of the 27,300 MT of silver produced worldwide in 2015, Peruvian output accounted for 15% (4,102 MT) of the total.
The result allowed the South American nation to become the world's second-largest producer of this precious metal.
SNMPE noted Peruvian silver-mining expanded by 8.6% in 2015, with a production of 4,102 MT, compared to the 3,777 MT registered the previous year.
Exports
Peru's silver exports totaled US$1.377 billion between 2011 and 2015.
The corresponding shipments were mainly addressed to the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Switzerland.
The future of the world's mining activity will be discussed at the 12th International Gold & Silver Symposium taking place in Lima on May 17th-18th, 2016.
(END) NDP/RES/AVV/MVB
Published: 4/27/2016