Copper production in Freeport McMoran fell 1.2% in the second quarter, gold production rose 19% from a year earlier.

SMM7, June 24 / PRNewswire-Asianet /-Freeport McMoran (Freeport McMoRan), the world's largest copper producer, released its second-quarter results on Thursday. During the reporting period, Freeport copper production fell 1.2 per cent year-on-year to 767 million pounds, while gold production rose 19 per cent year-on-year to 191000 ounces.

The company said underground mining at Ggrasberg continued as planned and that the copper mine was now shifting from open-pit mining to underground mining.

Output in the second quarter and half a year

The Arizona-based company announced a $1.3 billion cost-cutting plan earlier this year, including layoffs and extended expansion projects. Despite the rise in copper prices, Freeport has no plans to increase spending or make changes. The company's total costs and expenses fell 22% in the second quarter to $2.7 billion. As the company cut costs to cope with the impact of the new crown virus crisis.

It turned a profit in the second quarter as the world's largest listed copper company slashed costs to cope with the adverse effects of the new crown outbreak.

In the second quarter, the company's net income attributable to shareholders was $53 million, or 3 cents per share, compared with a loss of $72 million, or 5 cents per share, a year earlier.

The company's chief executive, Richard Adkerson, said Thursday that only a small number of employees were seriously infected with the new crown virus. If copper prices continue to improve, the company may consider resuming dividends or share buybacks in 2021.

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