BHP Group Ltd produced 20.54 million tonnes of metallurgical coal during the first three quarters (July 2022-March 2023) of the fiscal year, falling 2% year on year, the company said in its latest financial result.
Its third-quarter output stood at 6.93 million tonnes, falling 13% year on year and flat compared with the previous quarter.
Strongest rainfall in the past decade significantly impacted production of BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. The decline was partly offset by the increased handling capacity of trucks, especially in Goonyella Riverside and Daunia after the transformation to automated haulage fleets as well as eased COVID curbs against labor forces.
The company expected its metallurgical coal production for the FY 2022-23 at the lower end of the guidance of 29-32 million tonnes, and pointed out the potential impact on the result in the fourth quarter due to wet weather.
Iron ore
During the nine months to March, BHP produced 192 million tonnes of iron ore, rising 1% year on year. Output in the third quarter from January-March came in at 59.77 million tonnes, flat year on year but falling 11% from the preceding quarter.
BHP left its iron ore production guidance unchanged at 249-260 million tonnes for the whole fiscal year.
Iron ore production from Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) stood at 189 million tonnes during the first three quarters, rising 1% year on year. WAIO production during January-March was 58.70 million tonnes, flat year on year yet falling 11% from the previous quarter.
The guidance for WAIO remained unchanged at 246-256 million tonnes for the FY 2022-23.
Iron ore production from BHP's Samarco stood at 3.3 million tonnes during the given period, 7% higher year on year. Production stood at 1 million tonnes during January-March, up 5% year on year.
Its output guidance was left unchanged at 3-4 million tonnes for the whole year.
(Writing by Emma Yang Editing by Harry Huo)
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