BHP, the world’s third-largest iron ore miner, saw iron ore output from its Pilbara operations in Western Australia reach 72.1 million tonnes during the July-September quarter, up 1% from the prior quarter and 2% on year, according to the company’s latest quarterly report released on October 19. And the miner has kept its Pilbara iron ore production guidance for the 2023 fiscal year (July 2022-June 2023) unchanged at 278-290 million tonnes.
BHP highlighted its strong performance in Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO), which was partially offset by planned car dumper maintenance in the quarter.
Specifically, “continued strong supply chain performance and lower COVID-19 related impacts than the prior period, partially offset by wet weather impacts” led the output at WAIO to rise in the past quarter, and South Flank’s ramp-up to full production capacity of 80 Mtpa (100% basis) is still in progress, according to the company report.
The mining giant also noted in the report that it has maintained its WAIO iron ore production guidance for the current fiscal year, as the tie-in of the port debottlenecking project (PDP1) as well as the continued ramp-up of South Flank throughout the year will help boost its output.
As for Samarco, a non-operated joint venture in Brazil with BHP holding a 50% interest, it produced 1.1 million tonnes (BHP share) of iron ore in Brazil during the quarter ended on September 30, being 15% higher on quarter and 10% than in the corresponding period of 2021.
BHP attributed Samacro’s performance to “continued production of one concentrator, following the recommencement of iron ore pellet production in December 2020. And the FY’22 production guidance for Samarco has also remained unchanged at 3-4 million tonnes for BHP’s share.
Over July-September, BHP sold around 70.3 million tonnes of iron ore (100% basis), down by 3% on quarter and 1% on year, according to the report.
Post time: Oct-25-2022