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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2014

or

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from        to        

Commission File Number: 1-14066

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (602) 264-1375

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o  No x

As of October 29, 2014 there were outstanding 818,167,302 shares of Southern Copper Corporation common, par value $0.01 per share.

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Southern Copper Corporation (“SCC”)

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Southern Copper Corporation

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Southern Copper Corporation

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Southern Copper Corporation

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Southern Copper Corporation

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Southern Copper Corporation

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 — DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS:

The Company is a majority-owned, indirect subsidiary of Grupo Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. (“Grupo Mexico”).  At September 30, 2014, Grupo Mexico through its wholly-owned subsidiary Americas Mining Corporation (“AMC”) owned 83.5% of the Company’s capital stock.  The condensed consolidated financial statements presented herein consist of the accounts of Southern Copper Corporation (“SCC” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries. The Company is an integrated producer of copper and other minerals, and operates mining, smelting and refining facilities in Peru and Mexico. The Company conducts its primary operations in Peru through a registered branch (the “Peruvian Branch” or “Branch” or “SPCC Peru Branch”).  The Peruvian Branch is not a corporation separate from the Company.  The Company’s Mexican operations are conducted through subsidiaries. The Company also conducts exploration activities in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to state fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2014 and the results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.  The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The December 31, 2013 balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP).  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2013 and notes included in the Company’s 2013 annual report on Form 10-K.

NOTE 2 — SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS:

Short-term investments were as follows ($ in millions):

Trading securities consist of bonds issued by public companies and are publicly traded.  Each financial instrument is independent of the others.  The Company has the intention to sell these bonds in the short-term.

Available-for-sale investments consist of securities issued by public companies.  Each security is independent of the others and at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, included corporate bonds and asset and mortgage backed obligations.  As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, gross unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities were not material.

Related to these investments the Company earned interest, which was recorded as interest income in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings.  Also the Company redeemed some of these securities and recognized gains (losses) due to changes in fair value, which were recorded as other income (expense) in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings.

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The following table summarizes the activity of these investments by category (in millions):

(*) Less than $0.1 million

NOTE 3 - INVENTORIES:

Inventories were as follows:

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 total leaching costs added as long-term inventory of leachable material amounted to $265.5 million and $218.7 million, respectively. Long-term leaching inventories recognized as cost of sales amounted to $118.8 million and $82.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

NOTE 4 — INCOME TAXES:

The income tax provision and the effective income tax rate for the nine months of 2014 and 2013 were as follows ($ in millions):

These provisions include income taxes for Peru, Mexico and the United States. The increase in the effective tax rate in the nine months of 2014 from the same period in the prior year is primarily due to a new Mexican royalty tax instituted for 2014, which added 4.0% to the nine months effective tax rate and the provision for environmental remediation, which is being treated as a non-deductible expense and had a 0.8% effect on the tax rate.

Components of the income tax provision for the nine-month periods of 2014 and 2013 include the following ($ in millions):

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Royalty mining charge:

Peruvian operations: In 2011, the Peruvian congress approved an amendment to the mining royalty charge.  The new mining royalty charge is based on operating income margins with graduated rates ranging from 1% to 12% of operating profits, with a minimum royalty charge assessed at 1% of net sales. If the operating income margin is 10% or less, the royalty charge is 1% and for each 5% increment in the operating income margin, the royalty charge rate increases by 0.75%, up to a maximum of 12%. The minimum royalty charge assessed at 1% of net sales is recorded as cost of sales and those amounts assessed against operating income are included in the income tax provision. The Company has accrued $25.5 million and $26.9 million of royalty charge in the nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively, of which $6.6 million and $7.7 million, respectively, were included in income taxes.

Mexican operations:  In December 2013, the Mexican government enacted a new law which, among other things, established a mining royalty charge of 7.5% on taxable EBITDA and an additional royalty charge of 0.5% on the net sales value of gold, silver and platinum.  These charges became effective January 2014 and the Company has accrued $64.9 million of royalty taxes as part of the income tax provision for the nine months of 2014.

Special Mining Tax:

In 2011, the Peruvian government enacted a tax for the mining industry.  This tax is based on operating income and its rate ranges from 2% to 8.4%. It begins at 2% for operating income margin up to 10% and increases by 0.4% of operating income for each additional 5% of operating income until 85% of operating income is reached.  The Company has accrued $28.3 million and $28.6 million of special mining tax in the income tax provision for the nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes:

In the third quarter and nine months of 2014, there were no changes in the Company’s uncertain tax positions.

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or “FASB,” issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2013-11 on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The update clarifies that unrecognized tax benefits related to a net operating loss carry forward, or similar tax loss, or tax credit carry forward, should generally be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013.  Accordingly, the Company is presenting applicable uncertain tax positions as reductions to deferred income tax assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2014.

NOTE 5 — PROVISIONALLY PRICED SALES:

At September 30, 2014, the Company has recorded provisionally priced sales of copper at average forward prices per pound, and molybdenum at the September 30, 2014 market price per pound.  These sales are subject to final pricing based on the average monthly copper prices on the London Metal Exchange (“LME”) or New York Commodities Exchange (“COMEX”) and Dealer Oxide molybdenum prices in the future month of settlement.

Following are the provisionally priced copper and molybdenum sales outstanding at September 30, 2014:

Management believes that the final pricing of these sales will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

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NOTE 6 - ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION:

The Company maintains an estimated asset retirement obligation for its mining properties in Peru, as required by the Peruvian Mine Closure Law.  In accordance with the requirements of this law, the Company’s closure plans were approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines (“MINEM”). As part of the closure plans, the Company is required to provide annual guarantees over the estimated life of the mines, based on a present value approach, and to furnish the funds for the asset retirement obligation. This law requires reviews of closing plans every five years. Currently and for the near-term future, the Company has pledged the value of its Lima office complex as support for this obligation. The accepted value of the Lima office building, for this purpose, is $27.8 million. Through September 2014, the Company has provided guarantees of $14.2 million. The closure cost recognized for this liability includes the cost, as outlined in its closure plans, of dismantling the Toquepala and Cuajone concentrators, the smelter and refinery in Ilo, and the shops and auxiliary facilities at the three units, including the Ilo marine trestle. In the last quarter of 2012, the Company submitted updates to the closure plans for Toquepala, Cuajone and Ilo in accordance with the law. As a result of these revised plans, the Company adjusted its asset retirement obligation.

In 2010, the Company communicated to the Mexican federal environmental authorities its closure plans for the copper smelter plant at San Luis Potosi. The Company initiated a program for plant demolition and soil remediation. In January 2014, the Company approved an increase in the budget for this program to $62.4 million, of which the Company has spent $43.8 million through September 30, 2014. Plant demolition and construction of a confinement area at the south of the property were completed in 2012 and the Company expects to complete soil remediation and the construction of a second confinement area by the end of 2014.  The Company expects that once the site is remediated, a decision will be made on whether sell or develop the property.

In 2012, the Company recognized an estimated asset retirement obligation for its mining properties in Mexico as part of its environmental commitment. Even though, there is currently no enacted law, statute, ordinance, or written or oral contract requiring the Company to carry out mine closure and environmental remediation activities, the Company believes that a constructive obligation presently exists based on, among other things, the remediation caused by the closure of the San Luis Potosi smelter in 2010. Consequently, according to ASC- 410-20 on December 31, 2012 the Company recorded an asset retirement obligation of $25.1 million and increased net property by $20.3 million. The overall cost recognized for mining closure includes the estimated costs of dismantling concentrators, smelter and refinery plants, shops and other facilities.

The following table summarizes the asset retirement obligation activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

NOTE 7 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

The Company has entered into certain transactions in the ordinary course of business with parties that are controlling shareholders or their affiliates.  These transactions include the lease of office space, air transportation, construction services and products and services related to mining and refining.  The Company lends and borrows funds among affiliates for acquisitions and other corporate purposes.  These financial transactions bear interest and are subject to review and approval by senior management, as are all related party transactions.  It is the Company’s policy that the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors shall review all related party transactions.  The Company is prohibited from entering or continuing a material related party transaction that has not been reviewed and approved or ratified by the Audit Committee.

Receivable and payable balances with related parties are shown below (in millions):

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Purchase and sale activity:

Grupo Mexico and its affiliates:

The following table summarizes the purchase and sales activities with Grupo Mexico and its affiliates in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

Grupo Mexico, the parent and the majority indirect stockholder of the Company, and its affiliates provide various services to the Company.  These services are primarily related to accounting, legal, tax, financial, treasury, human resources, price risk assessment and hedging, purchasing, procurement and logistics, sales and administrative and other support services.  The Company pays Grupo Mexico for these services and expects to continue to pay for these services in the future.

The Company’s Mexican operations paid fees for freight services provided by Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A de C.V., for construction services provided by Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollos S.A. de C.V. and its affiliates, and for drilling services provided by Compania Perforadora Mexico S.A.P.I. de C.V. All of these companies are subsidiaries of Grupo Mexico.

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The Company’s Mexican operations purchased scrap and other residual copper mineral from Asarco, and power from MGE. Both companies are subsidiaries of Grupo Mexico.

The Company paid fees for engineering, construction and consulting services provided by subsidiaries of Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollos, S.A. de C. V, a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico.

In 2005, the Company organized MGE, as a subsidiary of Minera Mexico, for the construction of two power plants to supply power to the Company’s Mexican operations. In May 2010, the Company’s Mexican operations granted a $350 million line of credit to MGE for the construction of the power plants. That line of credit was due on December 31, 2012 and carried an interest rate of 4.4%. In the first quarter of 2012, Controladora de Infraestructura Energetica Mexico, S. A. de C. V., an indirect subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, acquired 99.999% of MGE through a capital subscription of 1,928.6 million of Mexican pesos (approximately $150 million), reducing Minera Mexico’s participation to less than 0.001%. As consequence of this change in control, MGE became an indirect subsidiary of Grupo Mexico. Additionally, at the same time, MGE paid $150 million to the Company’s Mexican operations partially reducing the total debt. At December 31, 2012, the outstanding balance of $184.0 million was restructured as subordinated debt of MGE with an interest rate of 5.75%. MGE will repay its debt to the Company using a percentage of its profits until such time as the debt is satisfied. At September 30, 2014 the remaining balance of the debt was $161.2 million and was recorded as non-current related party receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Related to this loan, the Company received interest income of $7.0 million and $7.6 million in the nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

In 2012, the Company signed a power purchase agreement with MGE, whereby MGE will supply some of the Company’s Mexican operations with power through 2032. MGE completed construction of its first power plant in June 2013 and the second plant, in the first quarter of 2014. MGE is currently awaiting the authorization for interconnection with the Mexican electrical system to start operations at the second plant. MGE began supplying power to the Company in December 2013. It is expected that MGE will supply a portion of its power output to third-party energy users. See also Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies, Other commitments.

The Company sold copper cathodes, rod and anodes, as well as sulfuric acid, silver, gold and lime to Asarco. In addition, the Company received fees for building rental and maintenance services provided to Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollos, S.A. de C.V. and its affiliates and to Perforadora Mexico S.A.P.I de C.V., and for natural gas and services provided to MGE, all subsidiaries of Grupo Mexico.

Companies with relationships with the controlling group:

The following tables summarize the purchase and sales activities with other Larrea family companies in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

The Larrea family controls a majority of the capital stock of Grupo Mexico, and has extensive interests in other businesses, including aviation and real estate.  The Company engages in certain transactions in the ordinary course of business with other entities controlled by the Larrea family relating to the lease of office space and air transportation.

Companies with relationships with SCC executive officers:

The following table summarizes the purchase activities with companies with relationships with SCC executive officers in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

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The Company purchased industrial materials from Higher Technology S.A.C. and paid fees for maintenance services provided by Servicios y Fabricaciones Mecanicas S.A.C.  Mr. Carlos Gonzalez, the son of SCC’s Chief Executive Officer, has a proprietary interest in these companies.

The Company purchased industrial material from Sempertrans and its affiliates, which employ Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez as a sales representative.  Also, the Company purchased industrial material from PIGOBA, S.A. de C.V., a company in which Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez has a proprietary interest.  Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez is the son of SCC’s Chief Executive Officer.

The Company purchased industrial material and services from Breaker, S.A. de C.V., a company in which Mr. Jorge Gonzalez, son-in-law of SCC’s Chief Executive Officer, has a proprietary interest, and from Breaker Peru S.A.C., a company in which Mr. Jorge Gonzalez, son-in-law and Mr. Carlos Gonzales, son of SCC´s Chief Executive Officer have a proprietary interest.

Equity Investment in Affiliate: The Company has a 44.2% participation in Compania Minera Coimolache S.A. (“Coimolache”), which it accounts for on the equity method. Coimolache owns Tantahuatay, a gold mine located in the northern part of Peru. To support the cost of the development of Tantahuatay, the Company loaned $56.6 million to Coimolache. The repayment of this loan was completed in August 2014.

In the nine months of 2013, Coimolache paid to the Company $18.4 million, as a reimbursement of funds expensed during the exploration stage of the Tantahuatay mine, which was recorded as other income in the condensed consolidated statement of income.

NOTE 8- BENEFIT PLANS:

Post retirement defined benefit plans

The Company has two non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering former salaried employees in the United States and certain former employees in Peru. Effective October 31, 2000, the Board of Directors amended the qualified pension plan to suspend the accrual of benefits.

In addition, the Company’s Mexican subsidiaries have a defined contribution pension plan for salaried employees and a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan for union employees.

The components of the net periodic benefit costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in millions):

Post-retirement Health care plan

Peru: The Company adopted a post-retirement health care plan for retired salaried employees eligible for Medicare in 1996. The plan is unfunded. The Company manages the plan and is currently providing health benefits to retirees. The plan is accounted for in accordance with ASC 715 “Compensation retirement benefits.”

Mexico: Through 2007, the Buenavista unit provided health care services free of charge to employees and retired unionized employees and their families through its own hospital at the Buenavista unit. In 2011, the Company signed an agreement with the Secretary of Health of the State of Sonora to provide these services to its retired workers and their families. The new workers of Buenavista del Cobre will receive health services from the Mexican Institute of Social Security as is the case for all Mexican workers.

The components of the net periodic benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in millions):

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NOTE 9 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

Environmental matters:

The Company has instituted extensive environmental conservation programs at its mining facilities in Peru and Mexico.  The Company’s environmental programs include, among others, water recovery systems to conserve water and minimize impact on nearby streams, reforestation programs to stabilize the surface of the tailings dams and the implementation of scrubbing technology in the mines to reduce dust emissions.

Environmental capital expenditures in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in millions):