Peru’s copper production rises in June backed by Chinese firms

Reuters | August 18, 2025 | 7:53 am Top Companies Latin America Copper

MMG resumes Las Bambas copper mine shipments

Las Bambas is one of the world’s largest copper mines. Credit: MMG.

Peru’s copper production rose 7.1% year-on-year in June, thanks mostly to higher output from Chinese firms, the country’s Energy and Mines Ministry said on Monday.

The world’s third-largest copper producer said output in the month totaled 228,932 metric tons.

Production at the Las Bambas mines, controlled by MMG, rose 63.5% in June, while output more than doubled at Chinalco, which is ran by Aluminum Corp.

Las Bambas is expected to report lower production in July due to a two-week blockade of a key road the company uses to transport copper, as part of a protest by informal miners.

Peru in the first six months of 2025 produced about 1.34 million tons of copper, up 3.5% year-on-year, according to the government.

(By Marco Aquino and Paolo Laudani; Editing by Gabriel Araujo)