LIMA, Jan 15 (Reuters) -

Copper output in Peru dipped in November as production from

the Antamina mine slid, according to data from the Andean

nation's energy and mines ministry published on Wednesday.

Peru is the world's third-largest miner of the key

industrial metal.

Overall, national copper production fell 4.6% in November

compared to the year-ago month to settle at 241,883 metric tons,

a report from the ministry showed. That brought output last year

through November to 2.47 million tons, slipping 1.1% compared to

the same period in 2023.

The November output was hit by a drop in production at

the Antamina mine, jointly operated by Glencore ( GLCNF ), BHP

, Teck and Mitsubishi ( MSBHF ), which fell

31%.

Copper production, among Peru's most important economic

drivers, is

expected to hold steady

in 2024 and 2025 at around 2.8 million tons, according to

industry experts. Production growth is seen hampered by aging

mines affecting ore grades, as well as a lack of new projects

coming online.