LIMA, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Copper production in Peru, the

world's No. 3 producer of the key industrial metal, fell 2.3%

this year through July compared to the same period a year

before, according to official data.

Output in the period was 1,512,607 metric tons, the energy

and mining ministry said on its website.

In July alone, Peru produced 222,389 tons of copper, a 3.2%

drop from the year before.

After years as the world's second largest copper miner after

Chile, Peru last year lost its position to the Democratic

Republic of the Congo.

The government's production goal for this year is 3 million

tons, which would mark a 9% increase over last year. However,

the SNMPE mining, oil and energy association last month said it

expects copper miners to fall short of that target.