What Makes Grasberg the Crown Jewel of Freeport’s Portfolio

As we noted in the previous part of this series, Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) expects its unit cash costs to fall in 2018, largely due to lower production costs at its Grasberg mine (RIO)(TRQ). Freeport expects a byproduct credit of $2.56 per pound at its Grasberg mine this year, bringing down the mine’s unit cash costs after byproduct credits to -$0.57 per pound. To put this figure in context, consider that the company’s unit cash costs after byproduct credits are expected to average $1.67 per pound in North America and $1.63 per pound in South America.