Big miner BHP has reported a dip in first-quarter output across its Western Australia iron ore operations but says it's still on track for a strong year.
March quarter iron ore production totalled 59.9 million tonnes, down four per cent from the December quarter, due to bad weather and planned maintenance impacts.
But on a year-to-date basis BHP - which ends its fiscal 2021 year on June 30 - lifted output by four per cent to a 188.3Mt.
"BHP's strong safety and operational performance continued during the quarter with record year-to-date production as Western Australia Iron Ore," CEO Mike Henry said.
"We are well-positioned to finish the year strongly."
BHP is already well past the halfway point for its 2020/21 iron ore output target of up to 255Mt.
During the March quarter, BHP shipped 66Mt on a wet tonne basis.
The price of iron ore currently trades around $US190 per tonne.
