Freeport Provides First-Quarter 2025 Operational Update

Rhea-AI Summary

Freeport (FCX) has released its first-quarter 2025 operational update, reporting that consolidated production from global mining operations met expectations. However, PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) experienced timing delays in shipments, leading to partial production deferral. After receiving regulatory approvals on March 17, 2025, PTFI resumed concentrate exports from Indonesia, which were temporarily restricted after December 2024.

The company expects Q1 2025 consolidated copper sales to align with January guidance of 850 million pounds, while gold sales are projected to be approximately 100,000 ounces below the initial guidance of 225,000 ounces. Unit net cash costs are estimated about 5% higher than the January guidance of $2.05 per pound of copper, mainly due to lower by-product credits from delayed gold shipments. FCX's consolidated average realized copper price for Q1 2025 is expected to be $4.40 per pound, exceeding the LME average quarterly settlement price of $4.24.

Positive

• Copper sales volume remains in line with guidance at 850 million pounds
• Realized copper price of $4.40/lb exceeds LME average of $4.24/lb
• PTFI successfully resumed concentrate exports after receiving regulatory approvals

Negative

• Gold sales projected 100,000 ounces below guidance
• Unit net cash costs 5% higher than initial guidance
• Temporary export restrictions in Indonesia affected Q1 shipments

Insights

Mining Operations Analyst

Freeport's Q1 2025 operational update presents a mixed but largely neutral picture despite some shipment timing challenges. Copper production has met expectations while temporary export restrictions in Indonesia and the ongoing ramp-up of PTFI's new precious metals refinery have affected gold sales, which are tracking 100,000 ounces below the previously guided 225,000 ounces.

The timing discrepancy for Indonesian shipments is significant but appears transitional rather than structural. The resumption of concentrate exports on March 17 following regulatory approval suggests these issues are being resolved. Meanwhile, the 5% increase in unit net cash costs above guidance ($2.05 per pound) warrants attention, as it directly impacts margins, though this increase stems primarily from lower by-product credits due to gold shipment timing rather than operational inefficiency.

On the positive side, Freeport's realized copper price of $4.40 per pound represents a substantial premium over the LME quarterly settlement price of $4.24, reflecting advantageous exposure to COMEX pricing for approximately one-third of its sales. This pricing advantage provides a meaningful buffer against the temporary operational challenges.

Most importantly, management maintains that there's no expectation of material changes to 2025 annual guidance, suggesting these Q1 issues represent timing variances rather than fundamental performance concerns. The copper production alignment with expectations and continued progress on infrastructure projects in Indonesia (smelter remediation and PMR ramp-up) indicate operational stability despite the quarter's challenges.

• First-quarter 2025 copper and gold production approximated expectations
• Timing of shipments in Indonesia impacted first-quarter 2025 gold sales
• No material impact expected on annual consolidated sales guidance
• Realized first quarter 2025 prices for copper reflect higher prices on U.S. sales

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport (NYSE: FCX) today provided an update on its first-quarter operating results.

First-quarter 2025 consolidated production from FCX’s global mining operations approximated expectations. The timing of shipments from PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) resulted in the deferral of a portion of its first quarter production to future periods.

Following receipt of regulatory approvals on March 17, 2025, PTFI resumed concentrate export shipments from Indonesia which were temporarily restricted after December 2024. Additionally, PTFI continues to ramp-up production at its newly commissioned precious metals refinery (PMR).

FCX currently expects its consolidated copper sales for first-quarter 2025 to be in line with its January 2025 guidance of 850 million pounds and its gold sales for first quarter 2025 to be approximately 100 thousand ounces below its January 2025 guidance of 225 thousand ounces.

Consolidated unit net cash costs for first-quarter 2025 are currently estimated to average approximately 5% higher than the January 2025 guidance of $2.05 per pound of copper for the first quarter, principally reflecting the timing of gold shipments resulting in lower by-product credits.

FCX is reviewing its annual consolidated sales guidance in connection with its routine quarterly forecast updates and does not currently expect a material change to its 2025 annual guidance.

FCX’s consolidated average realized price for copper for first-quarter 2025 is expected to approximate $4.40 per pound, compared with the London Metal Exchange (LME) average quarterly settlement price of $4.24 per pound. FCX expects its average copper selling price to be higher than the LME average because approximately one-third of its consolidated sales are based on U.S. Commodity Exchange Inc. (COMEX) prices.

FCX will release its first-quarter 2025 earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, April 24, 2025, and will hold a conference call to discuss the results at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time that same day.

FREEPORT: Foremost in Copper

FCX is a leading international metals company with the objective of being foremost in copper. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, FCX operates large, long-lived, geographically diverse assets with significant proven and probable reserves of copper, gold and molybdenum. FCX is one of the world’s largest publicly traded copper producers.

FCX’s portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest copper and gold deposits; and significant operations in North America and South America, including the large-scale Morenci minerals district in Arizona and the Cerro Verde operation in Peru.

By supplying responsibly produced copper, FCX is proud to be a positive contributor to the world well beyond its operational boundaries. Additional information about FCX is available on FCX's website at fcx.com.

Cautionary Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements in which FCX discusses its potential future performance, operations and projects. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical facts, such as plans, projections or expectations relating to production and sales volumes; unit net cash costs; PTFI’s remediation, commissioning, and ramp up of its new smelter and full production at the precious metals refinery; export licenses, export duties and export volumes, including PTFI’s ability to continue exports of copper concentrate until full ramp-up is achieved at its new smelter in Indonesia; timing of shipments of inventoried production and the impact of copper and gold price changes. The words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” "targets," “intends,” “likely,” “will,” “should,” “to be,” “potential" and any similar expressions are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements.

FCX cautions readers that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated, expected, projected or assumed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that can cause FCX's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, supply of and demand for, and prices of the commodities FCX produces, primarily copper and gold; PTFI’s ability to export and sell or inventory copper concentrates through remediation and full ramp-up of its new smelter in Indonesia; changes in export duties; completion of remediation activities and achieving full ramp-up of the new smelter in Indonesia; full production at the PMR; production rates; timing of shipments; and other factors described in more detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in FCX's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Investors are cautioned that many of the assumptions upon which FCX's forward-looking statements are based are likely to change after the date the forward-looking statements are made, including for example commodity prices, which FCX cannot control, and production volumes and costs, some aspects of which FCX may not be able to control. Further, FCX may make changes to its business plans that could affect its results. FCX undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, notwithstanding any changes in its assumptions, changes in business plans, actual experience or other changes.

The operational estimates in this press release are subject to further changes upon completion of FCX’s normal quarterly closing process and procedures.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331594244/en/

Financial Contact:

David P. Joint

(504) 582-4203

Media Contact:

Linda S. Hayes

(602) 366-7824

Source: Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

FAQ

What is FCX's expected copper sales volume for Q1 2025?

FCX expects consolidated copper sales of 850 million pounds for Q1 2025, in line with January 2025 guidance.

How much did FCX's gold sales guidance decrease for Q1 2025?

Gold sales are expected to be 100,000 ounces below the initial guidance of 225,000 ounces for Q1 2025.

What is FCX's realized copper price for Q1 2025?

FCX expects an average realized copper price of $4.40 per pound, above the LME average of $4.24 per pound.

Why did PT Freeport Indonesia's shipments face delays in Q1 2025?

PTFI's exports were temporarily restricted after December 2024 until receiving regulatory approvals on March 17, 2025.

How much higher are FCX's Q1 2025 unit net cash costs compared to guidance?

Unit net cash costs are estimated 5% higher than the January guidance of $2.05 per pound due to lower by-product credits.