See the latest mining news from Peru.
Peru is the world’s third largest producer of copper, silver, zinc and tin, and the seventh largest producer of gold. While Peru’s economy is diversified compared to other countries in the region, mining is the country’s economic engine driver and a disproportionate amount of public funds derive from taxes on the mining sector.
Peru is the world’s third largest producer of copper behind Chile and China, and copper accounts for 60% of exports. Southern Copper’s $1.2 billion expansion of the Toquepala mine and the construction of the $1.4 billion Tia Maria mine are forecast to propel Peru to become the world’s leading producer in the coming years.
Below are the latest production figures for copper, gold, zinc, silver, lead, iron, tin and molybdenum. 2015 data includes production through May. Below the production data is an interactive map with mine locations.
Copper
Peru’s largest copper producers are the Antamina, Toquepala, Cerro Verde, Cuajone and Tintaya mines. The Antamina mine in Ancash is operated by Peruvian company Antamina, a joint venture owned by BHP Billiton, Glencore, Teck and Mitsubishi Corporation. Southern Copper operates Toquepala and Cuajone in Tacna and Moquegua. Freeport operates Cerro Verde in Arequipa. The Tintaya mine in Cusco is owned and operated by Glencore.
Gold
Peru’s largest gold producers are Newmont Mining’s Yanacocha mine in Cajamarca and Barrick’s Lagunas Norte mine in La Libertad. A significant amount of gold is also produced illegally by small-scale operators at the Rio Huaypetue mine in Madre de Dios state.
Zinc
Peru’s largest zinc producers are the Antamina copper and zinc mine in Ancash, Milpo’s Cerro Lindo mine in Ica and Volcan’s Chungar mine in Pasco.
Silver
Peru’s largest silver producers are the Antamina mine in Ancash, Buenaventura’s Uchucchacua mine in Pasco and Ares’s Pallancata mine in Ayacucho.
Lead
Peru’s largest lead producers are the Volcan’s Chungar mine in Pasco and Sierra Metals’s Yauricocha mine in the Yauyos province of Lima.
Iron
All of Peru’s iron is produced by Shougang’s Marcona mine in Ica.
Tin
All of Peru’s tin is produced by Minsur at its San Rafael mine in Puno and its smelter-refinery in Ica.
Molybdenum
Southern Copper and Freeport produce over 80% of Peru’s molybdenum in their copper facilities in Tacna, Arequipa and Moquegua.
Map
Source: Mining and Energy Ministry
