MUMBAI (Commodity Online): The copper production of US based Southern Copper is expected to reach 500000 tonnes in 2010 with an average pricing of $3.25/lb, according to CFO Genaro Guerrero.

The output guidance figure represents a 3% increase over last year's 485376 tonnes and does not include any production from the halted Cananea mine in Mexico, which striking workers shut down in July 2007.

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The company is still estimating it will cost $50mn-60mn to get Cananea running again. Once it regains control of the facility, "we will evaluate what has been the damage and at that point in time we are going to have a firm number," Guerrero said during a conference call to discuss year-end results.