Peru's Mines and Energy Ministry said that domestic production of copper, gold, silver, lead, tin and zinc declined in 2011 while production of iron ore and molybdenum increased for the year.

However, the ministry reported monthly gold production was up 6.79% from 12,842,312 grams in December 2010 to 13,713,769 grams in December 2011. Production increased at Minera La Zanja, Xstrata Tintaya and Barrick Misquichilca in December 2011.

Peru's cumulative gold production for last year was 164,013,489 grams down 0.04% from 2010's total of 164,084,389 grams. The world's second-ranked silver producer reported 6.22% decline in production last year from 3,640,465 kilograms in 2010 to 3,414,010 kilograms in 2011.

Silver production for December 2011 also declined 3.95% from 312,499 kilogram in December 2010 to 300,141 kilogram. The production decrease was attributed to lower output from Minera Ares, Minera Suymarca and Volcan Compania Minera.

Peru's 2011 copper production also declined slightly by 0.96% from 1,247,184 tonnes in 2010 to 1,235,195 metric tons. However, copper production increased 6.49% for December 2011 from 115,171 tonnes in December 2010 to 122,642 tonnes. The increased output is attributed to higher production from Xstrata Tintaya, Minera Milpo, and Minera Antamina.

Molybdenum production was up 12.84% in 2011 from 16,963 tonnes in 2010 to 19,141 tonnes. December 2011 moly production rose 3.5% from 1,798 tonnes in December 2010 to 1,861 tonnes. Moly is mined by Cia Minera Antamina and Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde.

Peruvian iron ore production increased 16.2% last year for 7,010,938 long tons in 2011 up from 6,042,644 long tonnes in 2010. For December 2011 iron ore produced soared by 24.54% from 591,721 long tonnes in December 2010 to 736,944 long tonnes.

Meanwhile, lead production fell 12.2% in 2011 from 261,990 metric tons in 2010 to 230,019 tonnes. However monthly lead production increased 6.67% from 19,589 tonnes in December 2010 to 20,896 tonnes in December 2011. Increased production was reported at Minera Atacocha, Pan American Silver's Quiruvilca and Catalina Huanca.

Zinc production last year plunged 14.59% from 1,470,450 tonnes in 2010 to 1,255,899 tonnes in 2011. For December 2011, zinc production declined 6.26% from 190,087 tonnes in December 2010 to 102,262 tonnes.

Cumulative tin production plunged 14.67% in 2011 from 33,848 tonnes in 2010 to 28,882 tonnes. Peru's only tin producer is Minsur which reported December 2011 tin production declined 6.42% from 2,413 tonnes in December 2010 to 2,258 tonnes.

(Sourced from www.mineweb.com)