Peru boasts record copper production

Peru's copper production reached a record high of 2.46Mt in 2019, mainly due to higher production at Southern Copper's Toquepala mine.

Production increased 0.8% over 2018, the energy and mines ministry (Minem) said in a press release.

At the company level, Minera Cerro Verde contributed 19.3% of the copper produced in the country last year, followed by Minera Antamina with 18.7% and Southern Copper with 16.9%.

According to data, Arequipa region maintains leadership in red metal production with 19.5%, followed by Áncash with 19% and Apurímac with 15.6%.

Minem expects that in 2022 the country will produce close to 3Mt. Anglo American's Quellaveco (US$5.3bn), Mina Justa (US$1.6bn), owned by local miner Minsur, and the Toromocho expansion (US$1.35bn), in the hands of Chinalco, will be among the main producers in the coming years.