Mexico's Silver, Gold, Copper, Lead mine production rises in March: INEGI

MEXICO CITY (Scrap Monster): Mexico's silver, gold, copper and lead mine production increased sharply in March this year while iron ore production declined slightly, as per latest figures released by INEGI, National Statistics Institute, on Thursday.

According to INEGI, country's total mine production advanced by 1.7% month-on-month in March while its production in the first quarter this year gained by 5.8% year-on-year.

--Silver mine production rose by 3.4% year-on-year to 390,110 kilograms. Mexico is largest silver producer in the world.

--Gold mine production gained by 8.4% year-on-year to 8,017 kilograms. Country has moved into the top 10 nations in gold production.

--Copper mine production rose by 15% to 36,807 metric tons, as production continued to grow at the Cananea mine in the northern state of Sonora.

Copper mining company Grupo Mexico brought the mine back up to full production in the second quarter of 2011 after a three-year shutdown by striking workers. The firm is now expanding capacity at what was already Mexico's biggest copper mine.

--Lead mine production gained sharply by 15% year-on-year to 19,262 tons in March.

--Iron mine production fell by 0.4% year-on-year to 672,668 tons in March.

--zinc mine production declined by 1.5% year-on-year to 40,790 tons in March.

--Coal mine production dipped by 17.2% year-on-year to 1.04 million tons.