MMG's Las Bambas mine and Hudbay Minerals' Constancia mine, Peru's top copper producers, have issued warnings of potential production disruptions due to ongoing protests by informal miners, as reported by Reuters.
Peru, the world's third-largest copper producer, exports the majority of its copper to China.
Las Bambas is Peru's fourth-largest copper mine, producing over 320,000 tonnes (t) in 2024, while Constancia ranks ninth with 99,000t.
The protests, which have been blocking a major transit route since late June 2025, have prompted executives from both companies to meet Peru's cabinet chief, Eduardo Arana.
The demonstration is part of a wider movement calling for the Peruvian government to prolong the deadline for the legalisation of informal mining operations.
The protests have affected logistics across the country, including in the gold mining region of Pataz, and are expected to cause a 0.2% drop in Peru's gross domestic product (GDP) for July 2025, according to its central bank.
Arana expressed his commitment to fostering dialogue between companies and communities, although no details on the protests or their potential impact on copper output were provided in his statement.
Despite the unrest, Peruvian officials are determined to end the temporary REINFO programme, which aimed to formalise informal mining, by the end of the year.
The programme has faced criticism for enabling illegal mining that damages the environment, and informal miners have protested several times over its extension.
A source who attended a meeting with MMG and Hudbay executives and Peru's cabinet chief expressed increasing concern over the roadblocks preventing copper-laden trucks from reaching the coast.
"Large vehicles that supply and transport the mineral cannot pass," the source said. "Both companies are still operating, but they mentioned that if the situation continues for much longer, it could become complicated."
Gold mining operations are also suffering in the northern region of Pataz.
Poderosa's corporate affairs head, Pablo de la Flor, reported that the blockades have significantly impacted their operations: "The mining companies in Pataz are severely affected. We're now almost without food and basic supplies to operate."
However, Glencore's Antapaccay copper mine, which shares the transit route, has not reported any production issues.
