Day Slide, As Iron Ore Gains

China Baowu Steel Group is considering a 15-25% stake in BHP's Jimblebar iron ore mine in Australia, according to Reuters. BHP's share produced 62.5 million tonnes in fiscal 2026. No agreement has been reached. BHP and Baowu have previously collaborated on emissions reduction. The potential deal comes amid declining Chinese investment in Australia and ongoing trade tensions.

China Baowu Steel Group is considering a 15-25% stake in BHP's Jimblebar iron ore mine in Australia, which produced 62.5M tonnes in 2026. BHP owns 85% of the mine, valued at $3.2B. Baowu has not decided, and no deal is certain. A deal could strengthen ties between BHP and its largest customer market, China, but faces regulatory scrutiny.

Posco will use BHP's iron ore to test its HyRex hydrogen-based DRI technology at a 300,000 tonne/year demo facility in Pohang. The firms aim to advance R&D beyond resource trade, following an earlier MOU. The project, initially planned for 2028, could offer a decarbonization route for steel, despite high costs deterring some major players.

BHP's Chief Commercial Officer Rag Udd will leave the company at the end of January to pursue a new opportunity. Udd, who joined BHP in 1997, became Chief Commercial Officer in 2024. His departure follows the appointment of Brandon Craig as CEO in July, with analysts expecting further leadership changes.

BHP's chief commercial officer, Rag Udd, will leave the company at the end of January. Udd oversees sales and marketing of key commodities and led negotiations with China Mineral Resources Group. His exit follows China's pressure for better iron ore terms and comes amid expected leadership changes at BHP. Udd's successor will manage a critical commercial relationship as negotiations with China are expected to become more challenging.

BHP's Chief Commercial Officer, Rag Udd, will step down in January, according to an internal memo. Udd, who has worked at BHP for 30 years, oversees key iron ore negotiations with China. His departure leaves a critical role open for the company, as it navigates complex deals with Chinese buyers. Udd was also involved in BHP's potash and copper projects in Canada and Chile.