U.S. producer Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. (FCX) is taking further steps to cope with the deteriorating economic backdrop and will reduce output further at its North American operations, the company said Monday.

The reduction, which will reduce mining and crushed leach rates by a further 25% at its Morenci copper mine in Arizona, will result in a reduction in 2009 sales to 3.9 billion pounds.

-By Andrea Hotter, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9413; andrea.hotter@dowjones.com

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