PomegraBHP Stock Falls 1.8% After Copper Output Miss
Why is BHP stock down today?
BHP (BHP:ASX) stock fell 1.8% on Tuesday to about A$59.19 after the miner's copper output missed estimates on Chile mine disruptions, dragging ASX materials stocks down 1.2%.
Key numbers
| BHP copper output (Sep quarter) | 400,700 t-19% YoY |
|---|---|
| Escondida output | 252,600 t-23% YoY |
| Miss vs analyst forecasts | 5%–7% belowestimates differ by source |
| BHP share price | A$59.19-1.8% on the day |
| ASX materials sector | -1.2%ASX 200 -0.33% to 8,816.9 |
| FY2027 copper guidance | 1.65–1.80 Mtunchanged |
What happened
BHP (BHP:ASX) stock fell 1.8% on Tuesday to about A$59.19 after the miner's copper output missed estimates on Chile mine disruptions, dragging ASX materials stocks down 1.2%. BHP produced 400,700 tonnes of copper in the three months to 30 September, down 19% from a year earlier and short of analyst forecasts. Output at Escondida, its giant Chilean mine, fell 23% to 252,600 tonnes because of bad weather, maintenance, lower-quality ore and a stoppage after a worker died. BHP kept its full-year copper target of 1.65 to 1.8 million tonnes.
Why it matters
BHP is one of the world's biggest copper producers, and copper is used in power grids, electric vehicles and data centers, so supply problems at large mines are closely watched. Because BHP is so large on the Australian market, its fall helped pull down the whole mining group and the main index. BHP kept its yearly target, which suggests it expects output to recover.
Who this affects
- MarketbearishLow impact
- ASX investors saw miners drag the index down 0.33%.
- CompanybearishMedium impact
- BHP shareholders saw shares fall 1.8% on weak copper output.
- CompetitorsmixedLow impact
- Rio Tinto and South32 fell; Fortescue was flat.
- IndustrymixedMedium impact
- Chile mine disruptions highlight copper supply risks for buyers.
BHP vs Rio Tinto, Fortescue, South32
| BHPBHP:ASX | A$59.19 | -1.8% |
|---|---|---|
| Rio TintoRIO:ASX | — | -1.1% |
| FortescueFMG:ASX | — | +0.1% |
| South32S32:ASX | A$4.40 | -2.4% |
As of 2026-10-20
How we got here
BHP's September quarter ends with copper output of 400,700 tonnes, down 19% on the year.
BHP reports the quarterly update and keeps its full-year copper target unchanged.
BHP shares close down 1.8%; ASX 200 ends 0.33% lower at 8,816.9.
What to watch
- Whether Escondida output recovers toward BHP's unchanged full-year copper target of 1.65–1.8 million tonnesFY2027
- Any further stoppages at Escondida after the fatal accident and weather disruptionsQ4 2026
Educational content only. Not investment advice.
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