WASHINGTON: Peruvian export volumes of copper and molybdenum increased in January, while silver, gold, zinc, lead and tin shipments fell, the central bank said in a statement posted on its website. Total revenue from metals exports fell 14.2% from a year earlier to $1.35 billion in January, it added.
Copper shipments jumped 42.7% to 159,300 mt from 111,600 mt a year earlier, helping to boost export revenue by 8% to $609 million even as prices fell 24.3% to $1.73/lb, the bank said.
Freeport-McMoRan, Chinalco and Hudbay Minerals all ramped up output, while China Minmetals brought its $8.3 billion Las Bambas mine online. Molybdenum shipments increased by 10% to 2,000 mt from 1,800 mt, while export revenue fell 41% to $17 million as prices plunged 46.6%, the bank said.
Gold exports slid 1% to 479,200 oz from 483,600 oz a year earlier, the bank said. Export revenue fell 13% to $526 million as prices declined 12% to $1,097/oz from $1,249/oz, the bank said.
Silver shipments dropped 58% to 400,000 oz from 900,000 oz a year earlier, Limawhile export revenue plummeted 62% to $5 million and prices slid 8.8%. Zinc shipments fell 11.8% to 97,300 mt from 110,300 mt a year ago, slashing revenue by 30% to $102 million, while lead dropped by 58.6% to 32,400 mt from 78,200 mt. Export revenue fell 63% to $49 million, according to the bank.
Tin shipments from Minsur’s San Rafael mine declined 42.4% to 1,100 mt from 1,900 mt a year earlier, while revenue halved to $16 million and prices fell 24%. Peru is the world’s third-largest copper, zinc and tin producer, while it is ranked second in silver production and fifth in gold output.
