BHP Group produced 400,700 tonnes of copper in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, down 19% year over year. The company cited planned lower ore grades at its Escondida and Spence mines in Chile, scheduled maintenance and operational disruptions. BHP had previously flagged the lower grades to the market.
Disruptions included severe weather in Chile, a conveyor belt failure at the Carrapateena mine in Australia, and temporary work stoppages following two fatalities.
BHP reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 copper production guidance of 1.65 million to 1.80 million tonnes. Iron ore production rose 4%.