Official mine production figures released this week show that Peru’s production of tin-in-concentrates fell by 3.9% to 37,503 tonnes last year. The country’s production of lead, zinc, molybdenum and iron ore also declined, although there were small increases in copper, gold and silver production.

Peru is the world’s third largest tin miner, after China and Indonesia, and all its production comes from Minsur’s San Rafael mine. Refined tin production by Minsur’s Funsur subsidiary also declined in 2009, dropping by 10.6% to 33,920 tonnes as the company replenished concentrate stocks.