BHP reports lower Q1 iron ore output, but maintains guidance

BHP, one of the world's largest iron ore miners, produced 70.2 million wet tonnes (on a 100% basis) from its Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) operations during July-September, the first quarter of its 2026 financial year (July 2025-June 2026). The volume was lower by 2% on year and by a larger 9% compared with the prior quarter, according to the company's latest quarterly report released on October 21.

The mining giant blamed the decline in WAIO production on infrastructure upgrades at Port Hedland, the top iron ore dispatch terminal in Western Australia. The rebuild of Car Dumper 3, a massive machine that unloads iron ore from trains for export, impacted about 4.3 million tonnes (100% basis) of