March 14 (Reuters) - Peruvian mining exports dropped
19.8% in January compared to the same month last year, the
sector's business chamber said on Tuesday, in the wake of
devastating protests that have rocked the country in recent
months.
Total mineral exports in the month totaled $2.473 billion
dollars compared to the $3.1 billion recorded a year earlier,
the National Mining, Oil and Energy Society (SNMPE) said.
For copper, which Peru is the world's second largest
producer of, foreign sales fell 25% year-on-year in the first
month of the year, to $1.248 billion.
The association said the drop in copper sales abroad was
driven by a 20.3% drop in volumes compared to the same month in
2022, as well as a 5.9% drop in the metal's price.
Mining minister Oscar Vera said last week that local mines
were once again beginning to transport copper concentrate to
ports for exporting after protests hampered shipments.
Protests in the Andean country began in December over the
ouster of former President Pedro Castillo.
In a report on the industry's January production, the mining
ministry referenced "the interruption in the southern mining
corridor in the country due to social conflicts in the
production of extracted copper".
Meanwhile, gold exports saw an annual drop of 28% in January
to $578 million, the SNMPE reported. This was off the back of a
30.8% drop in volumes and despite an annual 4% price hike.
(Reporting by Raul Cortes, Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing
by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
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