Copper production, the country's main export, rose in 2021 partly thanks to the beginning of operations of Marcobre's $1.6 billion Mina Justa mine.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has given the company until March to respond to an offer of facilities to develop a tourism project in the area in exchange for withdrawing its complaint and halting mining activities.

The plan would require mines, agribusinesses and utilities to seek temporary permits to use water in a new model that prioritizes human consumption, the sustainability of water reserves and indigenous rights.

The miner expects to reach total production of 25.7-million tonnes of iron ore pellets in 2030, a year earlier than previously projected.

The Peru-focused company reported a 4.3% drop in copper production last year and expects the decline to continue this year.

Mexico currently has no commercial lithium production, but according to some estimates contains potentially lucrative deposits trapped in clay-based soils.