LIMA - Peru is clinging to its spot as the world's No. 2 copper producer and supplier, with a bounce in mining activity helping the Andean country stay just ahead this year of rival producer Democratic Republic of Congo , which is hot on its heels.
In the first quarter Peru's output was 619 000 tons versus DRC's. Peru is just ahead of Congo also on shipments with 1.4-million tons versus 1.3-million in the first half of the year, separate data from both mining ministries show. Key to increased production has been Anglo American's $5.5-billion Quellaveco mine, producing a monthly 30 000 tons of the metal, which started operations late last year.