Increased copper production will be one of the primary factors for a corresponding projected 74pc rise in mining exports from Ecuador, noted the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources on Tuesday.
The ministry expects exports in this area to reach $1.6bn in 2021 from the $921mn exported last year.
Ecuador’s Mirador mine is forecasted to have a higher processing volume of 60,000mt per day of copper ore.
Mining imports were up 127pc from January-April 2021, compared to the same period last year, to reach $421mn from $185mn, according to the Central Bank of Ecuador.
Copper and its concentrate were one of the main exported products, largely to Switzerland, the United States, China, Finland, Bulgaria, Germany, and Taiwan.