Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) just gave the copper market a bit of breathing room. The mining giant is offloading more ore than anyone expected after an oxygen plant problem at its PT Smelting facility in Indonesia stretched a planned four-week shutdown.

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That smelter usually processes material from Freeport's massive Grasberg copper-gold mine, but with operations on hold, the company suddenly has about 100,000 tons of copper concentrate ready to go. They're moving fast too the shipments need to clear before a short-term export license expires in mid-September.

It's not a game-changer for the global copper market, but for smelters scrambling for raw material after a big jump in processing capacity worldwide, it's a welcome dose of supply.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.