BHP

BHP recorded record production of iron ore and copper in fiscal 2026; copper contributed more than half of EBITDA for the first time. Net debt was below $9bn and the company paid a dividend of $8.7bn, the highest in four years. Management sees the copper growth portfolio as financeable from internal cash flows and plans expansions in Chile, Argentina, South Australia and long‑term options in the USA. Risks remain from higher fuel costs (around $200m impact), safety incidents and union tensions in Western Australia; the share price reacted only moderately positively. » More on de.investing.com

BHP has obtained an initial environmental permit to proceed with $1.3 billion of early-stage projects at the Escondida copper mine, including sulphide leaching operations and electricity infrastructure upgrades. The approval advances BHP's broader Chile investment plan of $10.7–$14.7 billion to address declining ore grades and support its goal of more than doubling global copper output to over two million tonnes by the mid-2030s. BHP holds a 57.5% interest in Escondida, with remaining stakes held by Rio Tinto and a consortium of Japanese companies. » More on finance.yahoo.com

BHP has increased the cost estimate for the second expansion stage of the Jansen potash project to $6.9 billion after a detailed review (previously $4.9 billion). First production is now pushed back to the end of fiscal 2031; Stage 2 was 16% complete at the end of May, with engineering work 83% complete. BHP expects annual production of about 4.36 million tonnes from Stage 2 and peak production of 8.5 million tonnes after ramp-up, an updated IRR of 11% and EBITDA margins above 65%. Because of higher capital intensity the company plans an impairment of around $2.3 billion in the 2026 financial results; the investment guidance for FY2027 remains at about $11 billion. » More on de.investing.com