BHP has celebrated record output from its Australian operations, thanks to increased copper prices and strong output across the board.
In the company’s half year results for the second half of 2025, BHP outlined record refined gold output at its Copper South Australia operations as well as record first half production and shipments at the Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) operation.
Steelmaking coal production also increased in the company’s latest reporting at its BMA operations in Queensland, with energy coal up 10 per cent.
“BHP enters the second half of FY26 with strong operating momentum. We’re investing for the decade ahead, with a significant copper growth pipeline and a pathway to approximately two million tonnes of attributable copper production in the 2030s,” BHP chief executive officer Mike Henry said.
“BHP delivered another half of very strong performance with operational records at our copper and iron ore assets. This was achieved safely and in a positive commodity price environment, with copper prices up 32 per cent and iron ore prices 4 per cent higher year on year.”
Growth at WAIO is set to continue, the company said, with global infrastructure partners enhancing the operation’s inland power network which, once complete, will see BHP “realise proceeds of approximately $US2 billion while retaining ownership and operational control in an innovative and value accretive transaction”.
WAIO produced 129.8 million tonnes of iron ore in the half-year to December 31 – up a single per cent from the same period last year.
Copper South Australia saw a 2 per cent growth in half year output, producing over 147,000 tonnes of copper.
Decarbonisation in the Pilbara also sat at the fore of BHP operations in the past six months, with battery-electric haul trucks arriving at the Jimblebar iron ore mine, marking the start of on-site testing.
Australia’s first purpose-built battery-electric heavy haulage locomotives also arrived in WA for trials on the WAIO rail network.