Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold CEO Richard Adkerson told CNBC’s “Closing Bell” he expects copper prices to be higher longer term.
Although the Chinese economy is slowing, the Freeport-McMoran (FCX) CEO said it hasn’t had as big an impact on copper (CEC:Commodities Exchange Centre: HGCV1) demand as it has had on other commodities.
“There’s continued spending on infrastructure,” he said, adding the markets are reacting to signs that the Chinese government will take actions to support growth.
With inflation under control, Adkerson is “optimistic about China.”
Copper demand in the U.S. is also running stronger than the overall economy because of a pick up in the automotive sector and the beginnings of a rebound in housing, Adkerson said.
Although Freeport-McMoran doesn’t make predictions about copper prices, Adkerson said that he’s very optimistic about the price of the red metal longer term.
Adkerson isn’t alone in expecting higher copper prices. Ephrem Ravi, Head of Metals & Mining Sector at Barclays, told CNBC Asia on Tuesday that copper is the commodity that both he and markets are most bullish on. (Related: Copper Will Stay Above $8,000 This Year).
A main reason for copper’s strength is structural. “Copper as a commodity is supported by limited supplies,” Adkerson said.
Freeport-McMoran is in a position to take advantage of the limited supplies because it has very large reserves at its existing mines, Adkerson said. “So by investing in brownfield projects we can step up and provide supplies when the industry as a whole is challenged.”
“We can provide volumes and make a lot of money if prices go higher which I anticipate they will,” he continued.
Anglo-Australian miner BHP Billiton is also poised to benefit from higher copper prices. “The bright spot for us was the copper production at Escondida, which has been the big disappointment for BHP Billiton’s (BHP) production numbers over the last three or four years,” Ravi said of BHP’s production update last week. Escondida is BHP’s Chilean copper mine.
With copper prices likely to head higher, Barclay’s Ravi said “If BHP can produce more of it than all the better.”
