Freeport-McMoRan(US:FCX) Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-06-24 07:43Group 1 - Freeport-McMoRan's copper smelter in Arizona is one of the last three operating copper smelters in the U.S., highlighting the challenges faced in rebuilding the domestic mineral supply chain [1][3] - The U.S. has significant copper reserves, estimated at approximately 47 million tons, ranking seventh globally, yet the average time from discovery to production is 29 years, second only to Zambia [1][7] - The operational costs of U.S. smelters are about three times higher than those overseas, leading many miners to process copper abroad due to lower costs and higher capacity [1][3] Group 2 - The U.S. copper industry peaked in 1997 with 35 mines and 11 smelters producing 1.9 million tons of copper annually, but now only has 25 mines and 2 smelters [7] - China dominates the copper refining market, processing 44% of the world's copper and producing approximately 13 times more refined copper than the U.S. [6][7] - The Resolution copper project in Arizona has recently made progress after a lawsuit from indigenous groups was dismissed, and it has been prioritized for federal approval [4]