BHP sets iron ore output record, forecasts further growth

  • Wednesday, July 18, 2018
  • Source:ferro-alloys.com

  • Keywords:BHP,iron output,record
[Fellow]BHP sets iron ore output record, forecasts further growth

[ferro-alloys.com]Mining giant BHP said Wednesday that iron ore production growth in the April-June quarter helped it achieve a record high annualized output rate and forecast a further increase for fiscal 2018-19.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Paul Hissey said the result had beaten RBC's expectations of 61 million mt.

BHP's June quarter performance on a 100% basis was 72 million mt and equates to an annualized rate of 289 million mt/year, the company's highest on record, BHP said.

JP Morgan said in a research note Wednesday that this was in line with its expectations.

The performance took BHP's share of production to 238 million mt for the full fiscal year 2017-18 (July-June), up 3% from the year before, and to 275 million mt on a 100% basis.

BHP in April had trimmed its iron ore production guidance for the fiscal year to 236 million-238 million mt from 239 million-243 million mt earlier due to unplanned maintenance and issues with car dumper availability. The 100% basis guidance was lowered to 272 million-274 million mt from 275 million-280 million mt.

"At WAIO, increased production was supported by improved productivity and stability across the supply chain, including both rail and port, which has enabled record production at Jimblebar and Mining Area C. This was partially offset by the impact of lower opening stockpile levels following the Mt Whaleback fire in June 2017 and unplanned car dumper maintenance in the March 2018 quarter," BHP said in the April-June report.

The miner said it expects fiscal 2018-19 iron ore production to rise on a 100% basis level to 273 million-283 million mt, with its share forecast at 241 million-250 million mt.

The company achieved an average price for its iron ore of $56.86/wet mt FOB over January-June, down 8% year on year, and $56.71/wmt for the full fiscal year, down 3% on year.

  • [Editor:王可]

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