The Melbourne-based miner produced 132 million tonnes of the steelmaking material in the six months to Dec 31. The record was achieved through a strong supply-chain performance, as it looks to demand increasing from its biggest customer. — Bloomberg
MELBOURNE: BHP Group Ltd, the world’s biggest miner, reported record iron ore production for its fiscal first half, predicting China would drive commodity demand in 2023 as the country opens up.
The Melbourne-based miner produced 132 million tonnes of the steelmaking material in the six months to Dec 31.
The record was achieved through a strong supply-chain performance, as it looks to demand increasing from its biggest customer.
“China’s pro-growth policies, including in the property sector, and an easing of Covid-19 restrictions are expected to support progressive improvement from the difficult economic conditions of the first half,” BHP chief executive officer Mike Henry said in a statement yesterday.
The nation was expected to produce more than one billion tonnes of steel for the fifth straight year, he said.
The record half for iron ore production comes after BHP and rivals including Rio Tinto Plc and Vale SA endured a volatile 2022 as the price of iron ore whipsawed amid ambiguity over China’s demand prospects.
Still, it finished the year little changed and hopes are rising for a better 2023, as the world’s biggest metals consumer dismantles zero-Covid measures, reopens its economy and pledges more support for the key construction and infrastructure sectors.
For the three months to Dec 31, BHP produced 66.9 million tonnes of iron ore, more than analysts’ median estimate of 64.2 million tonnes. Metallurgical coal production was up 10% on a year earlier, copper rose 16%, and nickel was down 18%.
BHP left forecast production for iron ore unchanged for fiscal 2023, but warned copper output would be at the low end as a result of constraints at Escondida in Chile, the biggest copper mine in the world, which has been hit by industrial action.
The company was boosted by higher output at the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia.
Copper, along with nickel and potash, is key to BHP’s growth plans as iron ore demand plateaus and it reduces its fossil fuel business.
It’s expected to acquire OZ Minerals Ltd later this year, which will boost copper production by around 7%, but gave no update on when that is likely to be finalised. The deal is subject to OZ Minerals’ shareholders voting in favour. — Bloomberg
