BHP's Q1 iron ore production fell short of expectations but is optimistic about demand resilience; copper production increased by 4%, becoming a new pillar

According to the Zhitong Finance APP, on Tuesday, BHP Group Limited (BHP.US), the world's largest publicly traded mining company, expressed an optimistic view on global iron ore demand while maintaining stable iron ore output amid an increase in first-quarter production of its key growth pillar—copper mines. "The overall macroeconomic signals for commodity demand remain strong, and global economic growth expectations are continuously being revised upward," said BHP CEO Mike Henry. Earlier this month, its competitor Rio Tinto (RIO.US) pointed out that as global economies ramp up investments ahead of the upcoming tariff policies, demand for iron ore in the Chinese market has already rebounded. In the three months ending September 30, BHP's iron ore production in Western Australia was 70.2 million tons on a 100% equity basis, slightly below the market estimate of 71.55 million tons. In the same period last year, production in the region was 71.6 million tons. Overall iron ore production fell slightly by 0.1% year-on-year to 64.1 million tons. Sales from the Western Australia mining region were roughly flat compared to the same period last year, but sales of high-value lump ore increased by 5%. BHP stated that the major reconstruction project of the No. 3 unloader at Port Hedland has been completed about 8% ahead of schedule. On a 100% equity basis, this project resulted in a reduction of iron ore production by 4.3 million tons. This giant piece of equipment is used to unload iron ore from trains for export, and after reconstruction, its lifespan has been extended, reliability improved, ensuring smooth operation after years of high-intensity use. Looking ahead, BHP maintains its production forecast for Western Australia iron ore for the fiscal year 2026, still estimated at 284 million to 296 million tons (on a 100% equity basis). Increased Copper Production Strengthens Strategic Layout Additionally, BHP's copper production for the quarter increased by 4% to 493,600 tons, mainly due to increased output from the giant Escondida project in Chile, effectively offsetting declines in other mining areas. Against the backdrop of an increasingly optimistic industry outlook, large mining companies are actively expanding their copper business. This red metal is favored for its critical role in renewable energy and data infrastructure. BHP itself predicts that global copper demand will surge by 70% by 2050. By enhancing the production capacity of its existing operations in Chile and Australia, BHP has become the world's largest copper producer over the past year, with an annual output of about 2 million tons. Increasing copper production is a key strategic direction for CEO Henry, who has been in office for six years. Currently, the group maintains its copper production forecast for 2026. Henry stated, "In the copper business, some competitors have experienced significant production disruptions, tightening the overall market fundamentals, which benefits its world-class asset portfolio." In the potash sector, despite long-term efforts to break into the market, BHP has recently postponed the expansion plan for the Jansen project due to cost overruns and ample market supply. However, the company remains optimistic, viewing potash as a long-term opportunity comparable in scale and efficiency to its iron ore business BHP stated that both phases of the Jansen potash project in Canada have made steady progress. The first phase is 73% complete and is scheduled to begin production in 2027; the second phase is 13% complete