Peru’s mining production fell by 5.3pc in February compared to the same month last year, the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) indicated.
Lower production of iron ore and lead were cited by INEI as the reasons for the decline. Iron ore production in February dropped by 9.3pc on an annual basis while lead output fell by 10pc in the same period, INEI noted in a statement on Apr 1, without disclosing volume.
Zin production, on the other hand, climbed by 15.2pc in February, compared to the prior year, and copper production rose by 1pc during the same timeframe.
In January, mining exports by value increased by 8pc to $2.5bn, from $2.3bn shipped in the same month of the prior year, according to Peru’s central bank.
The mining industry is one of the most important economic activities in Peru, which represents about 9pc of GDP and 60pc of the country’s exports. Copper and gold are the most important metals exported by value.