Peru’s mining exports reached $22.77 billion between January and October this year, a 31.4 percent increase over the same period in 2010, the Ministry of Energy and Mining said on Monday.

Mining exports reached $2.27 billion in October alone.

Copper sales represented the main mining export, with $9.09 billion during the first 10 months of the year, up 28.1 percent from 2010, when they totaled $7.1 billion.

On the other hand, gold exports during the same period reached $8.14 billion dollars, a 29 percent increase compared to 2010.

Zinc exports in October reached $1.29 billion, down 1.9 percent from the previous year.

According to the Ministry's report, Zinc exports totaled of 833 thousand metric tons this year, 21 percent less than in 2010.

Peru is the world's second-biggest producer of copper and sixth biggest producer of gold. It is also a major producer of lead, silver and zinc.

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