BHP first-half profit beats estimates

Bright prospects: A file picture showing a worker in a smelting plant. Commodity price volatility will continue for some time, including for iron ore, but the broad outlook for commodity demand and pricing remains strong. — Bloomberg

MELBOURNE: BHP Group has announced a record dividend payout after reporting an estimate-beating first-half profits, helped by higher commodity prices, despite a cutback in demand from top metals consumer China.

The miner has had a busy six months marked by sweeping changes, including selling its US$13bil (RM54.4bil) petroleum business and a listing unification, while managing pandemic-related disruptions to its business.