Peru's copper production fell 11.7% year-on-year in June, the Andean country's Ministry of Energy and Mining reported Monday, to 213,578 tons.
The country produced 1.29 million tonnes in the first six months of 2021, down 2.1% from the same period last year, the ministry added.
Peru is the world's third-largest copper producer, after recently losing second place to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The ministry said it expects production to be 3.00 million tonnes this year, up from 2.76 million tonnes last year.
Authorities are seeking to boost the key mining sector, which was hit by anti-government protests early last year as Peru entered a technical recession.
The company hopes to benefit from the launch of Tia Maria, a major copper project by Grupo Mexico-owned Southern Copper. It is expected to begin production in 2027 after development was suspended for more than a decade due to opposition from local communities.
