Mine production of all the main non-ferrous metals in Peru fell in 2010, according to official data released by the country’s mining ministry on 27 January. Production of tin-in-concentrates fell 24.6% in December to 2,413 tons. In the full year tin output dropped 9.7% to 33,848 tons. There were smaller declines in annual production of copper (-2.3%), zinc (-2.8%) and silver (-7.3%), but larger falls in mine output of gold (-11.1%) and lead (-13.4%).
All the country’s tin production comes from Minsur’s San Rafael mine, which from September to December cut the volume of ore treated substantially while tailings disposal arrangements were examined. However the drawdown of pipeline concentrate stocks allowed the company to maintain its production of refined tin at 36,052 tonnes, up 6.3% on the previous year.
