Sonora mining exports surge 34% to nearly $989 million in Q1 2026

Sonora exported US$988.7 million worth of minerals in the first quarter of 2026, a 33.8% increase over the same period a year earlier, according to INEGI data. The jump lifted mining to 14.9% of the state's total exports and placed Sonora fourth among Mexico’s 32 states for mining export value.

The rise is linked to higher copper prices—spot copper averaged US$9,400/t in Q1 2025 and exceeded US$9,800/t in Q1 2026—as well to the depreciation of the peso, which amplifies dollar‑denominated revenues. Major operations such as Grupo México’s Buenavista del Cobre and Coeur Mining’s Las Chispas contributed significantly.

Sonora also holds 13 of Mexico’s 82 identified lithium deposits, the largest concentration nationally, but extraction is hampered by the clay‑bound nature of the mineral and limited funding. State‑run LitioMx received a budget of MX$13.9 million (about US$805 k) for 2026, far below the cost of a single exploratory well.