The world’s top mining group BHP reported that its overall thermal coal output stood at 4.66 million tons in the July-September quarter, declining by 18% from the previous quarter and 17% from the same quarter last year. The company’s Australian New South Wales Energy Coal operation contributed to 3.62 million tons of thermal coal output. Production from this operation was down 26% from the previous quarter and up 1% from a year earlier.
BHP maintains production guidance at the Australian operation for the next financial year (June 2020-July 2021) at 15-17 million tons despite China’s restrictions on Australian coal imports. BHP said that it would monitor how the situation developed. BHP also said that adverse weather in Southeast Asia had caused delays on coal shipments in the three-month period through October.
BHP’s quarterly review also highlights an ongoing strike at the Colombian Cerrejon operation, where the company holds a one-third share. In the July-September quarter, attributable Cerrjeon production was up 35% quarter-on-quarter but down 49% year-on-year to 1.04 million. The quarterly production surge reflects the coronavirus-related shutdown in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the sharp yearly decline was due to a strike which started in late August. Due to the strike, BHP is reviewing the production guidance for Cerrjeon, which initially stood at around 7 million tons.
