Improved demand spurred Peru’s copper exports in January, which climbed by 2.6pc to 168,700mt from 164,300mt in the same month last year, according to the country’s central bank data.
Iron ore exports also rose in the first month of the year by 27.1pc to 2.1mn mt from 1.7mn mt in January 2020, the data indicated.
Lead exports, on the other hand, dropped by 33.7pc to 41,400mt in January, from 62,500mt in the same month of 2020, while zinc shipments declined by 25.5pc to 80,100mt from 107,500mt during the same period.
Peru exported minerals worth $2.5bn in January, up 8pc from $2.3bn reached in the same month last year.
The mining industry is one of the most important economic activities in Peru, representing about 9pc of GDP and 60pc of the South American country’s exports. Copper and gold are the most important metals exported by value.