Peru's mining company Antamina led national copper production in January-April 2018, with 147,000 fine metric tons (FMT) of the red metal, 15.5% higher than the same period last year (127,000 FMT), Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCR) reported Monday.
In said period, the Andean country's
total output expanded to 733,000 FMT, the same as in January-April 2017.
In terms of quantity produced,
Antamina is followed by Cerro Verde with 143,000 FMT (-5.0% from the same period in 2017), Las Bambas with 111,000 FMT (-24.8%), Southern Peru with 87,000 FMT (-2.1%), Toromocho with 65,000 FMT (+23.4%), and Antapaccay with 65,000 FMT (+5.1%).
The list also includes Constancia with 41,000 FMT (+10.2%), El Brocal with 14,000 FMT (-0.1%), Gold Fields La Cima with 11,000 FMT (+7.7%), Milpo with 14,000 FMT (0.0%), and others with 36,000 FMT (+21.9%).
April production
National copper
production dropped 3.1% to 180,000 FMT in April 2018, down from 186,000 FMT in the same month last year, due to lower extraction at Las Bambas and Cerro Verde.
As for Las Bambas, the decrease was explained by a five-day maintenance shutdown —the first one since the beginning of operations.
Annual production
In 2017,
Peru copper exports totaled 2.6 million FMT valued at US$13.7 billion, according to data released by the Energy and Mines Ministry.
(END) MDV/MDV/RMB/MVB
Published: 6/25/2018