Peru Reports Sharp Drop in 2020 Copper Production due to Pandemic

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL -Peru’s copper production plunged 12.5% to 2.15 million tonnes in 2020, the country’s Energy and Mines Ministry said on Monday, February 8th, driven down by coronavirus-related restrictions that hammered output in the world’s second-largest producer of the red metal.

The ministry said gold production also dipped 32% in 2020, to 87.3 million fine grams.

Peruvian health authorities required the country’s sprawling gold and copper mines to sharply reduce staff between mid-March and May, prompting the sharp drop in output.

The ministry added that zinc production had also fallen 5.3% to 1.33 million tonnes.

Mining is a major economic engine in Peru, accounting for nearly 60% of the Andean nation’s exports.