U.S. copper production at 3-year high; Arizona's Ray mine up 9%

The USGS reports that US copper production increased by 5% from that in 2011 and was at its highest level since 2009, although refined copper production decreased.  Smelter reduction was offset by higher exports of raw product.

The Mineral Industry Summary for copper states that:

In 2012, production from FCX’s [Freeport McMoRan] mines in Arizona rose slightly to 557,000 t, and production at  ASARCO LLC’s mines in Arizona also rose slightly, as a 9% increase in production at the Ray Mine was partially offset by lower production at the Mission Mine. A $60 million investment in new ball mills at the Mission Mine, slated to come on stream in the third quarter of 2013, was expected to increase production at Mission by 10,000 metric tons per year of copper.

 [Right, Ray Mine. Credit, Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold]