* Peru’s mining and energy ministry (Minem) has released new figures showing that copper production in February totalled 192,334 tonnes (t), representing an 11.6% increase on February 2022. Over the first two months of 2023, copper production amounted to 390,955t, representing an increase of 5.2% compared with the same period last year. Arequipa region remains the primary source of copper in Peru, accounting for 19.2% of production in February, followed by Áncash (16.7%) and Moquegua (15.6%). Minem stated that the latest production figures have consolidated Peru’s status as the world’s second-largest copper producer.