BHP Billiton Group announced on Wednesday that its iron ore production for the third fiscal quarter ending March 31 increased by 3%, driven by strong performance from its Western Australia operations, which helped offset disruptions caused by tropical cyclones. The company maintained its full-year production guidance.

Operations at Port Hedland, the world's largest iron ore export hub located in Western Australia, were disrupted in February and March by two tropical cyclones, impacting shipments of the key steelmaking ingredient.

BHP Billiton reported that iron ore production from its Western Australia mines, on a 100% basis, reached 69.8 million metric tons during the quarter. This exceeded the Visible Alpha consensus forecast of 68.9 million tons and was higher than the 67.8 million tons produced in the same period last year.

However, the realized price for the steelmaking raw material declined by 2% over the past three months, to $85.35 per wet metric ton.

The company affirmed its Western Australia iron ore production guidance for the 2026 fiscal year, on a 100% basis, which remains unchanged at a range of 284 million to 296 million tons.