Peru metal output mostly up in June, tin output falls

By  Paul Ploumis 12 Aug 2015  Last updated at  03:35:28 GMT

LIMA (Scrap Monster): The production of almost all major metals by Peru reported healthy growth in Peru during the month of June this year. While the output of copper, gold, silver and zinc reported significant increase during the month, tin production lagged behind, in accordance with the official government data released yesterday.

According to data released by the Energy and Mines Ministry, copper production rose 15.4% from 126,287 mt in June last year to 145,735 mt in June ’15. The decline in copper output from Freeport-McMoRan's Cerro Verde was offset by increased mine output from Antamina, Southern Copper, Toromocho and Antapaccay mines.

The increased output from Newmont and Barrick gold mines contributed to the 7% growth in gold production during June this year. The gold production totaled 368,939 Oz in June ’15, in comparison with the output of 344,803 Oz during the same month a year before.

Silver production too increased by 7% over the year from 10.47 MOz to 11.2 MOz in June. This is despite the strikes that had impacted the output from El Brocal and Buenaventura's Uchucchacua mine.

Zinc production rose 14% from 102,396 mt a year before to 116,732 mt in June ’15. Lead output too rose 12% from 111,723 mt to 125,130 mt over the previous year. Lead output witnessed sharp increase in Volcan and Milpo. Molybdenum output too jumped 44% to 1,686 mt in June 2015.

Meantime, tin production by Minsur- the country’s only tin producer, dropped sharply in June this year, falling nearly 18% from 2,048 mt in June 2014 to 1,679 mt in June this year.