BHP delivers 3bt of iron ore to China

BHP (ASX:BHP) has celebrated the shipment of 3bt of high-quality iron ore to China.  

To mark this milestone, key customer representatives were given a tour of BHP’s Pilbara and Port Hedland operations and a gala event was held in Perth.

On the tour, BHP chief commercial officer Vandita Pant and BHP asset president of WA iron ore Brandon Craig were joined by China Iron and Steel Association vice chairman Luo Tiejun and key customer representatives at the Mining Area C and South Flank mines as well as the Port Hedland export facility.

Mr Craig says this is a significant milestone for the company.

“This is a significant milestone for BHP’s iron ore business and for WA, and we are delighted to commemorate the achievement, celebrate our partnerships and showcase our world-class WA operations,” he said.

“We are fully focused on continuing to produce and deliver our high quality iron ore resources safely, reliably and sustainably.”

The gala was attended by WA Premier Roger Cook, Australia’s Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King and representatives of the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in WA.

Ms Pant says BHP is looking forward to building on its partnerships.

“BHP’s relationships with our customers in China have been fundamentally important to our company over the past 50 years,” she said.

“Through the reliable delivery of our high-quality iron ore resources and significant investment in steelmaking capability, together we have grown trade and provided the materials necessary for economic development globally.

“We look forward to building on our strong partnerships through collaboration to innovative and advance technologies with the potential to help decarbonise the steelmaking industry.”

Following the first shipment in 1973, it took BHP nearly 30 years to deliver its first 100mt of iron ore. By 2014, it had shipped 1bt and following significant investment and growth in its WA iron ore business, has now delivered 3bt just nine years later.