Copper exports rose 53.31% in the first two months of 2026, reaching US$6.384 billion

Copper solidified its position as the main mining export product during the first two months of 2026, driven by a favorable international scenario marked by historically high prices and sustained demand linked to electrification and the energy transition.

According to the latest Mining Statistics Bulletin from the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), copper exports generated revenue of US$6.384 billion between January and February of this year, a figure representing a 53.31% increase compared to the US$4.166 billion recorded during the same period in 2025.

This performance was driven by trends in the international copper market. In February, the value of copper exports reached US$3.032 billion, representing a 58.91% increase compared to the same month last year.

According to the official report, the increase was primarily driven by rising international copper prices, which rose by 53.41% compared to February 2025. This was accompanied by a 3.61% increase in export volumes.

Price behavior responded to factors linked to both global supply and demand. On one hand, the market has shown concern about potential supply restrictions due to lower ore grades and operational difficulties in some international mining operations. On the other hand, the growth of sectors related to electrification, renewable energy, and energy infrastructure continues to support global copper demand.

As a result of these circumstances, copper accounted for 34.01% of the total value of Peruvian exports during the first two months of the year, reaffirming its importance to the national economy and to foreign exchange earnings.

China remained the primary destination for Peruvian copper shipments. Between January and February, it accounted for 74.61% of the total export value, cementing its position as the most important market for the country’s copper production.

Japan and the United States followed China, with shares of 6.71% and 6.11%, respectively.

Together, these three markets accounted for 87.41% of copper exports during the period under review, highlighting the strong geographic concentration of Peruvian shipments to the major economies that consume the metal.

The MINEM figures reflect that copper continues to be one of the main drivers of Peruvian foreign trade, in a scenario where global demand for strategic minerals continues to gain prominence due to decarbonization and energy modernization processes taking place in different regions of the world.