LIMA, Feb 18, 2011 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) -- Southern Copper Corp. (SCCO) said Friday its Peruvian copper production would drop this year to about 330,000 metric tons from about 350,000 tons in 2010.

A spokesman for the company confirmed that the projected drop in output was due to lower ore grades at Southern Copper's Peruvian mines, Toquepala and Cuajone.

Southern Copper is majority-owned by Grupo Mexico (GMEXICO.MX) and operates mines, smelting and refining facilities in Mexico and Peru.

According to the latest estimates from Chile's Copper Commission, Peru slipped last year from being the second largest copper producer in the world to being the third largest, behind Chile and China.