Peru mining exports and investment see significant growth in 2026

Peruvian mining exports grew by 55% between January and August 2026, reaching US$ 57,492 million compared to US$ 37,081 million during the same period in 2025. According to the National Society of Mining, Oil and Energy (SNMPE) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem), this surge was primarily driven by increased values in copper, gold, and lead exports.

Copper exports accounted for 46.1% of the total mining export value, totaling US$ 26,513 million, while gold represented 37.6% at US$ 21,631 million. In August 2026 alone, mining exports rose 52.1% year-on-year to US$ 7,858 million, bolstered by a 38.1% increase in copper prices.

Complementing the export growth, mining investment in Peru reached US$ 4,813 million from January to August 2026, a 42.7% increase over the previous year. Infrastructure investment led the sector, accounting for 27.2% of the total, followed by development and preparation projects, which saw a 106.7% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

At the operational level, the Las Bambas mine reported a cumulative production of 310,484 tonnes of copper concentrate for the first nine months of 2026. While this reflects a slight sequential deceleration in the third quarter compared to the first half of the year, the site continues to produce significant quantities of gold, silver, and molybdenum subproducts.