Overview
- INDEC reports the mining production index rose 4.6% year over year in December and 3.3% for 2025, with the seasonally adjusted series up 0.2% from November.
- Crude oil extraction jumped 15.1% year over year in December and 13.1% for the year, driven by non‑conventional output up 32.9% as conventional volumes fell 11.2%.
- Natural gas production increased 5.7% year over year in December, masking a 12.5% rise in non‑conventional gas and a 5.1% decline in conventional gas, with a 1.7% annual gain.
- Lithium carbonate output reached 12,966.7 tons in December, up 72.8% year over year, and expanded 62.7% across 2025.
- Non‑metallic minerals and application rocks grew 22.8% in December and 8.2% for the year, while metallic mineral extraction contracted 32.9% in December and 8.3% for 2025; separately, Peru’s November data show recoveries in zinc (+13.7%), lead (+10.8%), iron (+5.6%) and a slight rise in silver (+0.03%).