BHP's Copper Output Drops Nearly 20% in First Quarter

On October 20, BHP released its operational report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027. The group's copper production from July to September 2026 stood at 400,700 tons, marking a 19% decline year-on-year and a 19% drop from the previous quarter. BHP attributed the decrease in first-quarter output primarily to planned declines in ore grade and scheduled maintenance. Additionally, production was affected by short-term operational disruptions caused by extreme weather in Chile, production suspensions due to safety reasons, and issues with the Carrapateena conveyor belt.