Freeport Reports Q3 2026 Copper Production of 830 Million Pounds, In Line With Expectations

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Summary · why it matters

Freeport reported third-quarter 2026 consolidated copper production of approximately 830 million pounds, in line with expectations, with slightly better international results offsetting slightly lower U.S. output. Consolidated gold production of approximately 230 thousand ounces also approximated expectations, but timing changes at PT Freeport Indonesia deferred roughly 60 thousand ounces of refined gold from the third quarter into the fourth quarter. As a result, Freeport expects third-quarter consolidated copper sales to approximate its July 2026 estimate of 750 million pounds, while gold sales are expected to approximate 100 thousand ounces, below the July estimate. Consolidated unit net cash costs are now expected to come in about 5% above the July 2026 estimate of $2.00 per pound of copper, mainly on lower by-product credits from the deferred gold sales, and the company estimates its third-quarter consolidated average realized price will exceed $6.50 per pound of copper. At the Grasberg minerals district, mill throughput averaged approximately 140,000 metric tons of ore per day, about 67% of normalized rates prior to the September 2025 incident, and PTFI's smelter in Eastern Java re-commenced operations in late August 2026, with Freeport still targeting 80% of capacity in mid-2027 and near full capacity by year-end 2027.

Impact on assets 3

Critical Materials & Supply Chain▼
Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc
FCX
▼ NegativeSupplyrelevance

Q3 copper/gold output in line but gold sales deferred and unit cash costs ~5% above July estimate on lower by-product credits, with Grasberg throughput only ~67% of normalized rates.

Others▼
⛏Gold Futures
GOLD
▼ NegativeSupplyrelevance

Timing changes at PT Freeport Indonesia deferred roughly 60 thousand ounces of refined gold from Q3 into Q4, cutting Q3 gold sales to ~100 thousand ounces.

⛏Copper Futures
COPPER
± MixedSupplyrelevance

Freeport's Q3 copper production of 830 million pounds was in line with expectations, with slightly better international results offsetting lower U.S. output.

Theme Impact 2

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