LIMA, March 19 (Reuters) - Copper production in Peru,

the world's No. 2 producer of the red metal, slipped 1.2% in

January from the same month the year earlier to some 205,375

metric tons, the Andean nation's mines and energy ministry said

on Tuesday.

The new figures come after a 17% drop in output from

MMG's Las Bambas mine and a 13.4% fall from

Freeport-McMoRan's ( FCX ) Cerro Verde mine.

That was below December's output of around 255,000 tons,

according to ministry data.

Peru's copper production

should reach 3 million tons

this year after hitting 2.76 million tons in 2023, Mining

Minister Romulo Mucho said earlier this month.