Peru copper and gold output nosedive in first half of 2020, ravaged by coronavirus -govt

Peru, a top global metals exporter, saw its output of copper, gold and zinc nosedive in the first half of 2020, ravaged by restrictions put in place to curb the coronavirus outbreak, the government said on Tuesday.

The world’s No. 2 copper producer said production of the red metal plunged 20.4% in the first half of 2020 versus the same period in 2019.

Gold production also fell 34.7% in the first six months of the year, while zinc output dropped off 23.7%, the country’s Energy and Mines ministry said in a statement.