What caused the shutdown of MMG's Las Bambas copper mine in Peru, and how long is the halt expected to last?

The Las Bambas mine was halted after a fatal incident on Tuesday in which two workers died and three others were injured while replacing water pumps; MMG announced the shutdown on Wednesday and stated operations would remain offline until at least Friday, when a progressive restart is expected.

How have recent disruptions at Las Bambas and Caserones mines affected global copper supply and market conditions?

The disruptions at Las Bambas — which accounts for about 2% of global mined copper supply — and Caserones — where Lundin lowered its annual copper production guidance by 10,000 metric tons due to storm delays — are exacerbating already tight global copper supplies, contributing to copper prices trading near record highs around $14,000 a ton amid strong demand from data centers and electrification and the threat of US tariffs drawing metal into American ports.

Peru Mine Halt, Chilean Storms Add to Copper Supply Struggles

Aug 19, 2026

Global copper supplies face strain as MMG halts Peru's Las Bambas mine following a fatality and Lundin cuts guidance due to Chilean storms, pushing prices near record highs.

bloomberg

2026-08-19

Peru Mine Halt, Chilean Storms Add to Copper Supply Struggles

Peru Mine Halt, Chilean Storms Add to Copper Supply Struggles

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