BHP shares near record high on copper strength and China deal
Miner affirms production guidance and resolves iron ore procurement dispute with state buyer.
BHP shares near record high on copper strength and China deal
Miner affirms production guidance and resolves iron ore procurement dispute with state buyer.
BHP Group's shares climbed to within R18 of a record high this week as copper prices strengthened and the company resolved a trade dispute with China's state iron ore buyer.13
The mining group said it remained on track to meet full-year production guidance across all commodities, with copper output now expected in the upper half of its forecast range following strong performance at its Escondida mine in Chile.2 Shares rose more than 10% over the past 30 days and traded near R660, recovering ground lost in March.1
BHP confirmed it had concluded talks with China Mineral Resources Group (CMRG), ending a months-long dispute that had seen bans on procurement of certain BHP iron ore types, including Jimblebar fines, which were banned in September.3 The resolution came two weeks after incoming chief executive Brandon Craig visited China.3
"Iron ore remains the cash engine that funds everything else BHP is building, and a clean relationship with its biggest buyer is fundamental for the business," said Josh Gilbert, a market analyst at eToro.3
BHP reported third-quarter iron ore output of 69.8 million tonnes from its Western Australia operations, beating estimates despite output from Jimblebar nearly halving sequentially to 10.9 million tonnes.3 Copper production fell 3% in the nine months to end-March.2
Current chief executive Mike Henry said the company's "centralised procurement capability and low-cost operations" positioned it advantageously against industry-wide pressure on energy and consumables costs resulting from conflict in the Middle East.2 The group said it continued to manage impacts of higher diesel and consumables costs and foreign exchange movements.2
Craig, a 26-year veteran who previously ran BHP's Americas division, takes over on 1 July.12 His appointment reinforced the group's focus on copper and its Americas operations, which include the Jansen potash project.1