The exports of the mining sector in Peru reached a total of 42.221 billion dollars (36.173 billion euros) between January and June, which represents an increase of 56% compared to the same period of the previous year, according to data released this Tuesday by the National Society of Mining, Oil and Energy (SNMPE).
Within the total shipments abroad, copper accounted for 19.455 billion dollars (16.668 billion euros), after recording an increase of 53.3%. Following was gold, with 15.808 billion dollars (13.544 billion euros) and a rise of 62%.
In year-on-year terms, the value of copper exports increased by 6.764 billion dollars (5.795 billion euros), while in the case of gold the increase was 6.047 billion dollars (5.181 billion euros) and in lead it was 1.585 billion dollars (1.358 billion euros).
The employers' association of the sector detailed that copper and gold represented 46.1% and 37.4% of the total mining exports, respectively. In addition, both metals accounted for 74.8% of all commercial shipments from Peru in the first half of the year.
Regarding the monthly behavior, only in June the mining exports totaled 6.429 billion dollars (5.508 billion euros), which implied an advance of 35.2%. Of that amount, 2.655 billion dollars (2.275 billion euros) corresponded to gold, with an increase of 45%, and 2.626 billion dollars (2.250 billion euros) to copper, which recorded an increase of 18%.