Peru, a major gold producer in the
world
The
phrases "Peru is a country made of pure gold", or "Peru is a
beggar sitting on a gold bank" (attributed to the exploiter Antonio
Raimondi) are not exaggerations since gold is the main mineral export product;
minerals represent the highest percentage of total exports. Between the years
2000 and 2012, exports were growing due to the great Chinese demand, the
retraction of the economy in later years, then reduced the export of minerals
and gold.
Peru is
the fifth or sixth nation (it depends on market fluctuations, in any case, its
position is highlighted) in the world that produces this precious metal and the
first in Latin America. Peruvian economic growth is based on mining, which is
the main supplier of foreign currency and the investment magnet of foreign
companies.
According
to the SNMPE Gold Committee, gold exports represent between 40% and 50% of the
total exports of the mining sector. This performance is explained by the
notable advance of the price of the precious metal in international markets and
by the exported volume (variation in volume and price).
The
regions of La Libertad and Cajamarca concentrated 50% of the Peruvian gold
production in 2017, in other years it is similar, the percentage is similar.
Other outstanding gold producing regions are Arequipa and Ayacucho. Silver,
other metal prices is also an important product; and Peru is the second largest
producer of silver in Latin America and in the world. The main destination
markets for Peruvian gold exports are Switzerland, Canada, the United States,
India and the United Kingdom.
In the
past, when markets did not exist in the current form, gold was used to produce
beautiful works of goldsmithing that were offered to the gods, they were used
as symbols of power and objects of adornment. Currently in public museums and
stolen collections, in Peru and the world, it is possible to appreciate the
mastery of the goldsmiths of the Inca and pre-Inca peoples who lived in the
Peruvian territory.
In the
museums you can admire pieces of gold, from different cultures and different
periods of origin. Between the years 1200 to 1553, the Incas dominated the
Andes and were inheritors of the traditions of all the civilizations that had
already passed through there. One of the traditions was the use of gold, symbol
of power and religion, to make rings, headbands, cups, masks and many other
objects. 'The gold of the Incas' is a treasure that surprises the world by the
quality and spectacularity of the works.
References
SNMPE:
Exportaciones de oro sumaron más de US$ 7,970 millones el 2017
El Perú
es un país hecho de oro puro, Juan Ramos junio 10, 2009 Economía,
Perú:
primer productor de oro en Latinoamérica y sexto a escala mundial
Aquellos dorados
incas
El oro es
el principal producto de exportación peruano, 28 de abril, 2010
