Peru’s March copper production up 20% as mines restart after protests

The world’s no. 2 copper producing country saw its first quarter copper output rise 11.2% from the same period of 2022, the ministry said in a statement, landing at 615,514 tonnes.

Major mines such as China’s MMG Ltd’s Las Bambas and Glencore’s Antapaccay recorded sharp drops in February production due to a blockade of a key highway amid anti-government protests.

Nevertheless, Southern Copper saw its production rise nearly 80% year-on-year in March, while Antapaccay’s rose 65% and Cerro Verde’s production grew 7.3%, the statement said.

Anglo American’s Quellaveco, which began production halfway through last year, posted a March output of 22,153 tonnes, it added.

The Andean country faced several protests throughout 2022, and a political and social crisis triggered by the Dec. 7 ouster of former president Pedro Castillo.