Half-Year 2025 Report and Accounts
BHP Group Limited
Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
18 February 2025
Operational excellence underpins strong returns and investment in growth
"BHP reported a strong financial performance for the half-year, underpinned by safe and reliable operations and rigorous cost control. The Group's industry-leading margins and robust cash flow enabled the Board to determine an interim dividend of 50 US cents per share - a total of US$2.5 billion. The strength of the result demonstrates BHP's operational resilience and its ability to perform through the cycle, with standout production performances in the half from Escondida, WAIO and BMA. WAIO has maintained its lead as the lowest-cost iron ore producer globally, a testament to our ongoing work to drive productivity at our operations.
We continued to invest in growth, including US$3.2 billion in potash and copper, and have now also successfully completed the US$2.0 billion formation of Vicuña Corp, a 50/50 joint venture with Lundin Mining to develop the combined Filo del Sol and Josemaria copper projects in an exciting prospective region in Argentina.
In Brazil, the signing of a comprehensive settlement agreement during the half will deliver expanded programs for the environment and communities, while also providing greater clarity on future cash flows related to the tragedy.
The demand for BHP products remains strong despite global economic and trade uncertainties, with early signs of recovery in China, resilient economic performance in the US and strong growth in India. The trajectory of the world population growing from eight billion today to 10 billion in 2050, with more people living in cities, together with the energy transition and the growth of data centres and AI, will compound the need for more metals and minerals. Against this backdrop, BHP is well-positioned, with the ability to leverage our strong balance sheet, technical know-how and sustainable business practices to deliver growth and resilient shareholder returns.
Ross McEwan will succeed Ken MacKenzie as Chair on 31 March 2025. We thank Ken for the instrumental role he has played in shaping BHP and look forward to Ross' leadership as Chair of BHP."
Mike Henry
BHP Chief Executive Officer
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Safety |
Operational excellence |
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Focus on fatality elimination |
Copper equivalent production Up 5.3%[i] |
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High Potential Injury frequency[ii] declined ~54% from H2 FY24, with zero high potential injuries recorded in Q2 FY25. |
Group copper production increased 10%, driven by a 22% increase at Escondida. Strong underlying operational performance at all other assets, including at WAIO where production was up 1% and at BMA where production increased 14% (excluding production from the now divested Blackwater and Daunia mines). |
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Financial results |
Net cash tax paid |
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Attributable profit US$4.4 bn HY24 US$0.9 bn |
Net income tax and royalty-related taxation US$3.4 bn HY24 US$3.6 bn |
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The Group's Attributable profit reflects our strong underlying operational performance and disciplined cost control amid the lower price environment. Underlying attributable profit[iii] decreased 23% (after adjusting for the HY24 exceptional losses). Total copper proportion of Group Underlying EBITDAiii increased to 39% (HY24: 25%), reflecting a 10% increase in copper volumes and higher copper prices. |
BHP continues to be one of the largest corporate taxpayers in Australia, as is Escondida in Chile. Our global adjusted effective tax rateiii was 36.4% and increases to 44.2% once revenue and production-based royalties are included. |
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Investing in growth |
Shareholder value |
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Capital and exploration expenditureiii US$5.2 bn Up 10% HY24 US$4.7 bn |
Fully franked interim dividend US$0.50 per share 50% payout ratio |
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We invested US$3.2 bn in potash and copper and expect to invest ~65% of our medium-term capital on these future-facing commodities. In January 2025, we completed the formation of Vicuña Corp. (Vicuña), a 50/50 joint venture with Lundin Mining to develop the combined Filo del Sol (FDS) and Josemaria copper projects. |
We have determined an interim dividend of US$2.5 bn. In February 2025, BHP announced that Ken MacKenzie will retire from the Board on 31 March 2025. The Board has elected Ross McEwan to succeed as Chair from this date.
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1
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Group financial performance
Earnings and margins
Strong underlying operational performance provides resilience against lower prices
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Revenue US$25.2 bn Down 8% HY24 US$27.2 bn
Attributable profit US$4.4 bn Up 376% HY24 US$0.9 bn
Underlying attributable profit US$5.1 bn Down 23% HY24 US$6.6 bn
Profit from operations US$9.1 bn Up 90% HY24 US$4.8 bn
Underlying EBITDA US$12.4 bn Down 11% HY24 US$13.9 bn
Underlying EBITDA marginiii 51.1% HY24 53.3%
Adjusted effective tax rate 36.4% HY24 31.0% FY25e 33 - 38%
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BHP's strong underlying operational performance delivered increased sales volumes in our key commodities: copper, iron ore and steelmaking coal.[iv] Revenue however decreased US$2.0 bn primarily as a result of the decline in realised iron ore and steelmaking coal prices. This was partially offset by higher realised copper prices. Our productivity initiatives and cost discipline, combined with favourable foreign exchange movements, allowed us to mitigate a global inflation rate of ~3.7%, which was predominantly driven by higher labour costs. As a result, unit costsiii were ~3.9%[v] lower across our major assets, with WAIO maintaining its position as the lowest cost major iron ore producer globally and Escondida delivering a 12% reduction in unit costs. Overall, Underlying EBITDA decreased 11% due to the lower revenue. The contribution from copper increased to 39% of Group Underlying EBITDA (HY24: 25%) reflecting a 10% increase in copper volumes and higher copper prices. Our Underlying EBITDA margin remained strong at 51.1%. Our 20-year average Underlying EBITDA margin is greater than 50%.[vi] For further details see |
Our adjusted effective tax rate increased primarily due to the impact of higher rates under the new Chilean mining tax regime that applied from 1 January 2024, and increased earnings from Chilean copper. The adjusted effective tax rate for FY25 is expected to be within the guidance range of 33% to 38%. Our operating costs included US$1.3 bn of revenue or production-based royalties. Including these payments, our Group effective tax rate was 44.2% (HY24: 40.9%). For further details see Adjusted Effective tax rate. We recorded Attributable profit of US$4.4 bn through disciplined cost control and strong operational performance, amid the lower price environment. Underlying attributable profit decreased 23% (after adjusting for the HY24 exceptional losses). For further details see
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Detailed financial information is included in Appendix 1 |
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2
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Cash flow and balance sheet
Conservatively geared balance sheet underpinned by net operating cash flows supports organic investments
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Net operating cash flow US$8.3 bn Down 6% HY24 US$8.9 bn
Capital and exploration expenditure US$5.2 bn Up 10% HY24 US$4.7 bn FY25e ~US$10 bn
Free cash flowiii US$2.6 bn Down 30% HY24 US$3.8 bn
Net debtiii US$11.8 bn FY24 US$9.1 bn HY24 US$12.6 bn
Gearing ratioiii 19.2% FY24 15.7% HY24 21.7% |
Our net operating cash flow decreased as a result of lower realised prices, particularly in iron ore. We generated free cash flow of US$2.6 bn after investing US$5.2 bn in line with our Capital Allocation Framework (CAF). Our investments included: · US$3.8 bn in organic development including US$1.6 bn on growth in potash and copper, US$1.4 bn on improvement projects; plus US$0.2 bn of exploration spend; and · US$1.4 bn of maintenance and decarbonisation expenditure.[vii] Capital and exploration expenditure guidance remains unchanged:[viii] · ~US$10 bn for FY25, including ~US$0.5 bn of exploration; and · ~US$11 bn for FY26 and per annum on average in the medium term.[ix] We have a strong pipeline of growth projects, including at Jansen, Escondida, Copper South Australia, WAIO and Vicuña. We maintain flexibility to adjust capital spend and phasing of projects to accommodate market dynamics and cash flow generation.
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After investing in line with our CAF, our net debt increased by US$2.7 bn from 30 June 2024 to US$11.8 bn reflecting: · Payment of dividends to BHP shareholders of US$3.9 bn, and to non-controlling interests of US$1.1 bn; and · US$0.6 bn in Samarco settlement obligations. Future Samarco settlement obligations up to FY28 have been hedged to protect against potential foreign exchange volatility. BHP's business is stronger now than when we revised the net debt target range in 2022. We have a more resilient portfolio, with increased exposure to future-facing commodities. We maintain a low net debt/EBITDA ratio relative to industry competitors of 0.4x.[x] Our global credit ratings[xi] remained unchanged in HY25. Moody's rating is A1(stable)/P-1 and Fitch's rating is A (stable)/F-1 (long-term/short-term respectively). For FY25, the Group's net debt balance is expected to increase to around the top end of the net debt target range following completion of the Vicuña transaction and payment of the H2 Samarco settlement obligations. Disciplined application of our CAF enables us to maintain a resilient balance sheet while retaining the flexibility to allocate capital within our CAF towards shareholder returns and growth opportunities. We are comfortable to move above our net debt target temporarily to execute value accretive opportunities and support future investments such as Vicuña. |
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BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
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Detailed financial information is included in Appendix 1 |
Value and returns
Continuing to balance investment in the business and cash returns to shareholders
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Interim dividend 50 US cps Fully franked 50% payout ratio
Underlying return on capital employed (ROCE)iii 20.4% HY24 26.4% |
Earnings per share - basic 87.1 US cps HY24 18.3 US cps
Earnings per share - Underlyingiii 100.2 US cps HY24 129.6 US cps
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Our operations continued to generate strong Underlying ROCE of 20.4%, with Escondida and WAIO achieving 29% and 44% respectively. An interim dividend of US$0.50 per share (US$2.5 bn) has been determined, equivalent to a 50% payout ratio, with a payment date to shareholders of 27 March 2025. This extends our track record of strong returns while balancing investment in growth. Including the determined HY25 interim dividend, we will have returned ~US$50 bn cash to shareholders since 1 January 2021. |
Important dates for shareholders
BHP's Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) will operate in respect of the interim dividend. Full terms and conditions of the DRP and details about how to participate can be found at: bhp.com/DRP
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Events in respect of the interim dividend |
Date |
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Announcement of currency conversion into RAND |
25 February 2025 |
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Last day to trade cum dividend on Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) |
4 March 2025 |
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Ex-dividend Date JSE |
5 March 2025 |
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Ex-dividend Date Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE) |
6 March 2025 |
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Ex-dividend Date New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
7 March 2025 |
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Record Date |
7 March 2025 |
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Announcement of currency conversion into AUD, GBP and NZD |
11 March 2025 |
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DRP and Currency Election date |
11 March 20251 |
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Payment Date |
27 March 2025 |
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DRP Allocation Date2 |
10 April 2025 |
1 5:00 pm AEDT.
2 Allocation dates may vary between registers but all allocations will be completed on or before 10 April 2025.
Shareholders registered on the South African branch register will not be able to dematerialise or rematerialise their shareholdings between the dates of 4 March 2025 and 7 March 2025 (inclusive), and transfers between the Australian register and the South African branch register will not be permitted between the dates of 25 February 2025 and 7 March 2025 (inclusive). American Depositary Shares (ADSs) each represent two fully paid ordinary shares and receive dividends accordingly.
Any eligible shareholder who wishes to participate in the DRP, or to vary a participation election should do so before 5.00 p.m. (AEDT) on 11 March 2025, or, in the case of shareholdings on the South African branch register of BHP Group Limited, in accordance with the instructions of your CSDP or broker. The DRP Allocation Price will be calculated in each jurisdiction as an average of the price paid for all shares actually purchased to satisfy DRP elections. The DRP Allocation Price applicable to each exchange will be made available at: bhp.com/DRP
4
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Economic outlook
In HY25, prices for BHP's key commodities were mixed, with copper rising marginally and steel raw materials trending lower over the period.
The global economy grew at 3.2% in CY24, with services outperforming industrial activity, which has led to slowing commodity demand in many economies. In the near term, the global growth outlook is likely to remain at around 3% for CY25 and CY26, but the impact of policy on trade and inflation remains a key uncertainty, particularly for the United States and its trade partners. Developed economies are expected to gradually recover, as interest rates continue to be lowered, with the US economy likely to outperform other developed markets. China met its 5% annual growth target for CY24 and is expected to draw upon policy support to rebalance its economy and improve domestic demand in the near term. Meanwhile, India is likely to remain as the fastest growing major economy. Inflation has eased across our major operating regions, but we still expect lingering labour market tightness to impact the mining sector's cost base in the remainder of FY25.
Commodity demand
Demand for commodities in the developed world continued to be soft in CY24 as sluggish industrial activity persisted. Central Banks' ongoing rate cuts are expected to translate into a recovery for steel and copper demand across the OECD in the near‑term. However, potential trade tensions present a risk to the recovery in developed economies and across the globe.
China recently reiterated a pro-growth policy stance with more accommodative monetary and proactive fiscal measures. In the face of external trade uncertainty, policymakers have vowed to boost domestic demand via several measures that should support steel and metals-related manufacturing demand. China's housing sales have shown some signs of stabilisation as national new home sales turned to growth in Q4 CY24, following the persistent decline since Q3 CY21. Nevertheless, a recovery in construction activity is expected to take longer than sales to recover. Despite soft demand from the property sector, Chinese steel production in CY24 was supported by continuing infrastructure investment, manufacturing activity and resilient steel exports mainly to the global south. Manufacturing exports have been supported by high volumes into emerging economies despite reduced exports to the developed world. Chinese copper demand should maintain its growth trajectory despite external risks.
India continues to be a bright spot for commodity demand. While we anticipate a marginal cyclical deceleration across the Indian economy in the next two years, our view on its underlying structural growth potential remains intact.
Over the long term, population growth, urbanisation, rising living standards, and the infrastructure required for digitisation and decarbonisation are all expected to drive demand for steel, non-ferrous metals and fertilisers. We believe that China's economic transition could also accelerate its demand shift increasingly towards 'future-facing commodities'.
For the review and outlook relating to our individual commodities please refer to the relevant segment sections.
Costs and inflation
Inflationary pressures across our cost base have eased considerably from their post-pandemic peaks. Headline consumer inflation in Australia has fallen from a 7.8% peak in FY23 to currently being within the Reserve Bank of Australia's 2-3% target range, while in Chile, inflation is hovering just above the target range. We have generally seen a similar easing in inflationary pressure across most key categories of our cost base, but the path to normalisation has been slow and bumpy for some. We also still expect some of the lagged effects of inflation to continue to flow into our cost base for the remainder of FY25.
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
The labour market, which had been the most persistent inflationary concern, appears to be easing, though conditions in our operating regions will vary in the near-term. In Australia, wage growth has been moderating since it peaked in the first half of FY24. In Chile, the path to labour cost normalisation was disrupted due to the impact of higher electricity tariffs feeding through to inflation-linked wage hikes in FY24. These cost pass-throughs should moderate in the near-term.
Some raw materials that impact our cost base, such as ammonia and natural rubber, also pushed higher in the first half of FY25 due to supply-side issues, while electricity costs in Australia remained volatile. Meanwhile, diesel prices continued to ease amidst expectations of global oversupply.
Overall, the cost of mining production continues to be higher than it was prior to the pandemic. This implies that price support is also higher, and low-cost operators stand to capture potentially higher relative margins in certain commodities.
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BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Segment and asset performance
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Detailed financial information on all business segments in the Financial performance summary |
Copper
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Production 987 kt Up 10% HY24 894 kt FY25e 1,845 - 2,045 kt
Average realised price US$3.99/lb Up 9% HY24 US$3.66/lb
Underlying EBITDA US$5.0 bn Up 44% HY24 US$3.5 bn 39% contribution to the Group's Underlying EBITDA 54% Underlying EBITDA margin
Underlying ROCE 13% HY24 10%
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Commodity review and outlookCopper prices in HY25 retreated from the recent peak in May 2024, but remained relatively elevated owing to tight fundamentals, China stimulus plans and US interest rate cuts since September. Chinese copper demand exceeded expectations in CY24 as continued strength in power grid investment and consumer durables demand (e.g. air-conditioners and electronics) offset the ongoing weakness in the real estate sector. Outside China, soft manufacturing demand and slower than expected investment dragged on local copper consumption. In the near term, the copper market is expected to be broadly balanced. China's demand will continue to grow due to stimulus directed to power infrastructure and consumer durables, and demand from growing electric vehicle penetration should continue to be robust. While headwinds might persist in Europe, we are more optimistic for demand growth in North America and India, as well as Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where new fabricating capacity is expected to ramp up. Mine supply continues to grow modestly but is facing challenges, lagging overall demand. Copper concentrates balance is expected to remain very tight and the industry will rely on rising copper scrap supply to help fill this gap for the next couple of years. We note that global visible cathode inventories are low compared to historical levels and there will be limited scope for inventories to rise. This could lead to critically low inventories in the event of any mine supply disruptions in the latter part of this decade. In the long run, we believe annual copper demand will grow from 32 Mtpa currently to over 50 Mtpa by 2050, with the key drivers being 'Traditional' economic growth (home building, electrical equipment and household appliances), 'Energy Transition' (renewables and electric vehicles) and 'Digital' (Artificial Intelligence and Data Centres demand of 3 Mtpa by 2050). We anticipate that the cost curve for the mines needed to meet this demand is likely to steepen as both operational and development challenges progressively increase. For future mine supply to be incentivised we think prices will need to rise from levels seen in the first half of FY25 and be sufficiently high to trigger investment. |
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Capital and exploration expenditure US$2.2 bn HY24 US$2.0 bn FY25e ~US$4.7 bn |
Segment outlookAfter increasing copper production by 19% from FY22 to FY24, we delivered a 10% increase in HY25,[xii] including a 10-year production record at Escondida as we mined higher grade ore, and further lifted productivity across all copper-producing assets. In HY25, total copper Underlying EBITDA increased to US$5.0 bn and its contribution to the Group's Underlying EBITDA increased to 39% (HY24: 25%). BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
6 In Chile we have a strong pipeline of organic growth options with attractive returns across our Escondida and Pampa Norte assets. At our Chilean copper site tour in November 2024, we outlined seven key projects across both existing and new facilities. These are competitive and capital efficient with an average capital intensity of ~US$23,000/t, less than similar projects in the Americas from our competitors at ~US$27,000/t. Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) across these projects are planned between FY26 to FY29, subject to permitting. Delivering these projects will potentially grow copper production to average ~1.4 Mtpa in Chile through the 2030s. We are growing at our 100% owned Copper South Australia (Copper SA) asset, with growth projects across all three operations. We are assessing the pathway to deliver >500 ktpa of copper production in the early 2030s (>700 ktpa CuEq), and a strategy to deliver up to 650 ktpa copper production by the middle of next decade.[xiii] This is supported by the recent exploration success at OD Deeps and at Oak Dam. In Peru, we hold a 33.75% share in Antamina, a top ten global copper producer.[xiv] Antamina is expected to produce between 115 - 130 ktpa in FY25, and recently received environmental approval to continue mining to 2036 (from 2028). BHP Canada and Lundin Mining have also formed the Canadian-incorporated joint venture company, Vicuña, to hold the combined FDS and Josemaria copper projects located in the Vicuña district of Argentina and Chile. BHP's total cash completion payment for the transaction was US$2.0 bn, paid in January 2025. We also have a 45% interest in the Resolution Copper Project in the United States, one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in the world with the potential to become a significant copper producer in North America. As part of our aspiration, we estimate that these projects could potentially deliver over 2 Mtpa of attributable copper production by the mid-2030s.[xv]
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BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Escondida
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Copper production |
Unit cost1,2 |
Underlying EBITDA |
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644 kt Up 22% |
US$1.33/lb Down 12% |
US$3.5 bn Up 48% |
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HY24 528 kt FY25e 1,180 - 1,300 kt Medium-term3 900 - 1,000 ktpa |
HY24 US$1.51/lb FY25e US$1.30 - US$1.60/lb Medium-term3 US$1.50 - US$1.80/lb |
HY24 US$2.3 bn |
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1 Based on exchange rates of: HY25 USD/CLP 947 (realised); HY24 USD/CLP 874 (realised); FY25 and medium-term USD/CLP 842 (guidance). 2 Refer to Non-IFRS information for detailed unit cost reconciliation. 3 Medium-term refers to an average for a period from FY27 onwards. |
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Financial performance |
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Underlying EBITDA increased 48% primarily as a result of: · Increased sales volumes in line with higher concentrator feed grade and higher recovery due to mine sequencing, which had a favourable impact of US$0.7 bn; and · Higher realised copper prices, which had a favourable impact of US$0.5 bn. These were partially offset by the impacts of one-off labour related costs and operating costs for additional fleet to deliver on the mine plan. Overall Escondida unit cost performance was strong, delivering a 12% reduction in controllable costs, which exclude inflation, foreign exchange and price linked costs. |
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Asset outlook |
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Production for FY25 remains unchanged between 1,180 and 1,300 kt. Production for FY25 and FY26 is expected to average between 1,200 and 1,300 ktpa. From FY27 production is expected to decline to between 900 and 1,000 ktpa on average for a period as a result of lower concentrator feed grades. Concentrator feed grade for FY25 is expected to remain greater than 0.90% and decline to below 0.80% from FY27. The Escondida growth program continues to advance. On the Chilean site tour, we presented four growth options to offset the impacts of falling concentrator feed grade, including: · The potential expansion and debottlenecking at the Laguna Seca concentrators to increase throughput and improve recovery using Hydrofloat technology; · The Los Colorados concentrator life extension with the potential to continue production through to FY29; · A new concentrator to replace the ageing Los Colorados facility with construction planned to commence in FY29; and · The application of new technologies to leach spent primary sulphide ores and improve recoveries. At a program level the expected IRRs are attractive at between 15% and 19% at consensus prices, with competitive capital intensities between US$19,000 and US$26,000/t CuEq. Full SaL, a BHP designed leaching technology which has already been successfully deployed at Spence, remains on track for first production during FY25. We expect it to produce ~410 kt in copper cathodes at Escondida over a 10-year period once implemented through improved recoveries and shorter leach cycle times. In the Escondida Norte pit, we achieved the first month of full autonomous haulage in December 2024 with 20 trucks operating. We will continue to ramp up its hauling fleet to ~50 autonomous trucks over the next three years. Escondida continues to evaluate transitioning its entire fleet of conventional haul trucks to autonomous operations over the next decade. |
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BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Pampa Norte
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Copper production1,2 |
Spence unit cost2,3,4 |
Underlying EBITDA |
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126 kt Down 9% |
US$2.01/lb Up 1% |
US$0.5 bn Up 34% |
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HY24 138 kt FY25e 240 - 270 kt Medium-term ~250 ktpa |
HY24 US$1.98/lb FY25e US$2.00 - US$2.30/lb Medium-term US$2.05 - US$2.35/lb |
HY24 US$0.4 bn |
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1 HY25 production is for Spence only. HY24 includes 11 kt from Cerro Colorado which entered temporary care and maintenance in December 2023. Excluding these volumes, HY25 production decreased 1%. Medium-term guidance refers to an average of 250 ktpa over five years on the basis that remediation of the previously identified TSF anomalies does not impact operations. 2 FY25 and medium-term production and unit cost guidance is provided for Spence only. 3 Refer to Non-IFRS information for detailed unit cost reconciliation. 4 Based on exchange rates of: HY25 USD/CLP 947 (realised); HY24 USD/CLP 874 (realised); FY25 and medium-term USD/CLP 842 (guidance). |
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Financial performance |
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Underlying EBITDA increased 34% predominately due to higher realised copper prices. Unit costs were broadly flat as we managed the impact of general inflation and lower capitalisation of mine development costs in line with the mine plan.
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Asset outlook |
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Production at Spence for FY25 is expected to be between 240 and 270 kt and the concentrator plant modifications completed in June 2024 are continuing to deliver expected improvements in throughput and recovery. Production is expected to average ~250 ktpa over the next five years. On the Chilean site tour, we presented two future growth options at Spence: · An option for the implementation of Simple Approach to Leaching 2 (SaL2), BHP's patented technology, at the sulphide leach pad, which would enable processing of transitional and hypogene ores. The ability to leach low-grade ores would allow us to prioritise higher grades at the concentrator and potentially extend cathode life from FY28 to FY31 at an average of ~60 ktpa of production; and · Two avenues to expand and debottleneck the Spence concentrator to further lift throughput and recoveries which could potentially increase production by 10 - 15 ktpa. Cerro Colorado entered temporary care and maintenance in December 2023 and we are studying the application of BHP's SaL1 leaching technology to potentially restart operations in the future.
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BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Copper South Australia
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Copper production |
Unit cost1,2 |
Underlying EBITDA |
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145 kt Down 6% |
US$1.57/lb Down 5% |
US$0.7 bn Up 26% |
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HY24 154 kt FY25e 300 - 325 kt |
HY24 US$1.65/lb FY25e US$1.30 - US$1.80/lb |
HY24 US$0.6 bn |
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1 Based on exchange rates of: HY25 AUD/USD 0.66 (realised); HY24 AUD/USD 0.65 (realised); FY25 AUD/USD 0.66 (guidance); and prices for by-products of: FY25 gold US$2,000/oz, and uranium US$80/lb (guidance). 2 Refer to Non-IFRS information for detailed unit cost reconciliation. |
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Financial performance |
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Underlying EBITDA increased predominantly as a result of higher average realised prices for copper, uranium, gold and silver, which had a favourable impact of US$0.3 bn. This was partially offset by the impacts of a two-week weather-related power outage and subsequent two-week ramp up period which resulted in lower production. Inventory drawdowns to maintain sales commitments during this period also resulted in higher operating costs. |
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Asset outlook |
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Production for FY25 is expected to be between 300 and 325 kt, with strong performance across the asset in December of 30kt. This is an indication of a stable ramp up after the weather-related power outage and reflects the strong underlying performance at Copper South Australia following a number of years of investment in asset integrity, and the successful integration of the Prominent Hill and Carrapateena assets. We are executing growth and exploration projects, such as: · At Prominent Hill, the Prominent Hill Operation Expansion (PHOX) project has progressed with shaft sinking now ~70% complete, the head frame installed and site infrastructure upgraded, with 90% of work packages awarded. The project is now forecast to come online in H2 FY27 (previously FY26) for a total investment of US$912 m (previously US$673 m). Revisions to schedule and investment amount are primarily due to lower than planned initial shaft sink rates, provision for additional ground support due to seismic activity at depth and the tendering of major work packages. The Wira shaft hoisting system is expected to extend the mine life to at least 2040 (previously 2036). · At Carrapateena, the commissioning of Crusher 2 has supported higher productivity from the sub-level cave and we continue to invest in processing plant capacity to enable an uplift in throughput to 7 Mtpa of mined ore. The Block Cave Expansion project is progressing via underground development of the access and conveyor decline below the existing sub-level cave. The project is expected to extend the mine life beyond the existing sub-level cave and increase throughput at Carrapateena up to 12 Mtpa, ramping up from FY29. · At Olympic Dam, we have approved ~US$200 m of investment in underground development that will enable a new surface access decline. The Southern Mining Area Decline (SMAD) will unlock up to 2.5 Mtpa of additional vertical capacity and support future mine expansion options, with completion expected in FY28. · At Oak Dam, exploration activity peaked at 13 active drill rigs during the period (10 now active). We are seeking approvals to begin execution activities on an underground access decline. We are assessing the optimal pathway for a Smelter and Refinery Expansion (SRE) at Olympic Dam.xiii We expect the SRE will proceed in two phases. The first phase is planned for FID in HY27 and would involve a transition to a two-stage smelter configuration with concentrate smelting capacity between 1,100 to 1,400 ktpa which is better suited to the asset mineralogy. This would enable us to unlock ~US$1.5 bn of total synergies from the OZL acquisition. The second phase of the expansion would increase capacity to align with potential further growth from Oak Dam and Olympic Dam. |
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BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Iron ore
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Production 131 Mt Up 1% HY24 129 Mt FY25e 255 - 265.5 Mt
Average realised price (WAIO) US$81.11/wmt Down 22% HY24 US$103.7/wmt
Underlying EBITDA US$7.2 bn Down 26% HY24 US$9.7 bn 56% contribution to the Group's Underlying EBITDA 63% Underlying EBITDA margin
Underlying ROCE (WAIO) 44% HY24 62%
Capital and exploration expenditure (WAIO) US$1.4 bn HY24 US$1.0 bn FY25e ~US$2.5 bn |
Commodity review and outlookIron ore benchmark prices traded around the US$100/t level in HY25. Global seaborne iron ore demand fell in CY24, with a marginal decrease in China and developed Asia not offset by growth from developing Asia and Europe. Chinese steel production remained resilient in CY24, with solid growth from infrastructure investment, capital goods related to the energy transition and steel exports offsetting weakness in the property sector. Chinese pig iron output was less resilient than overall steel output, as scrap-based steel production recovered. As a result, seaborne supply outpaced demand with the combined annual shipments from leading producers expected to have hit record levels in CY24. This has kept Chinese port stocks at elevated levels over the past six months. In the near term, global seaborne demand is expected to remain in a plateau phase with marginal declines from China mostly balanced by growth in developing Asia. Supply growth from major producers is anticipated to continue in the coming years. New iron ore projects in Africa and potentially some mine restarts are expected bring further supply pressures from 2026. Our estimate of cost support continues to sit in the US$80 - US$100/t range on a 62% Fe CFR basis, formed by approximately 180 Mt of higher cost supply, mainly from Australian junior miners, Indian fines and some Chinese domestic mines. Over three-quarters of this supply has costs above US$90/t. Export volumes of price-sensitive Indian fines almost halved year-on-year over HY25. As the market turns more competitive, some additional high-cost suppliers may leave the market in the coming years. We maintain our view that China's steel production is likely to have plateaued around the 1 Bt level until the late 2020s. However, its pig iron production is expected to decline with more recycled scrap used in steelmaking. In the long run, seaborne iron ore trade is likely to diversify gradually as demand grows from other developing regions. Traditional supply basins might require more investments to sustain production in the face of grade decline and resource depletion. Segment outlookWe remain the lowest cost major iron ore producer globally and are focused on maintaining our industry leading cost position at WAIO. We plan to increase production to >305 Mtpa (100% basis) at WAIO over the medium-term, underpinned by the Port Debottlenecking Project 1 (PDP1) which was delivered in CY24 and enabled record first-half tonnes shipped from the port, as well as the Rail Technology Programme (RTP1). We are assessing options to grow our WAIO production up to 330 Mtpa (100% basis) if market conditions warrant, including studying optimal mine and infrastructure configurations and potentially increasing ore beneficiation. We expect to complete these studies in CY25. In Brazil, Samarco is set to double production capacity following the restart and ramp up of a second concentrator, helping to support the local community through jobs, investment and taxes. |
11
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Western Australia Iron Ore
|
Iron ore production |
Unit cost1,2 |
Underlying EBITDA |
|
128 Mt Up 1% |
US$18.19/t Down 1% C1 US$17.50/t3 |
US$7.1 bn Down 26% |
|
HY24 126 Mt FY25e 282 - 294 Mt (100% basis) Medium-term >305 Mtpa (100% basis) |
HY24 US$18.46/t FY25e US$18.00 - US$19.50/t Medium-term <US$17.50/t |
HY24 US$9.6 bn |
|
1 Based on exchange rates of: HY25 AUD/USD 0.66 (realised); HY24 AUD/USD 0.65 (realised); FY25 and medium-term AUD/USD 0.66 (guidance). 2 Refer to Non-IFRS information for detailed unit cost reconciliation. 3 C1 unit costs for HY24 were US$15.98/t. WAIO C1 unit cost excludes third party royalties of US$1.54/t (HY24: US$1.99/t), net inventory movements US$(1.12)/t (HY24: US$(0.43)/t), depletion of production stripping US$0.95/t (HY24: US$0.77/t), and exploration expenses, demurrage, exchange rate gains/losses, and other income US$(0.68)/t (HY24: US$0.15/t). |
||
Financial performance |
||
|
Underlying EBITDA decreased 26% primarily driven by lower average realised prices for iron ore, which decreased 22% and had an unfavourable impact of US$2.7 bn. This was partially offset by lower price-linked royalties and higher sales volumes, reflecting continued strong supply chain performance unlocked by PDP1 and record volumes delivered from the Central Pilbara hub (South Flank and Mining Area C). For five years WAIO has been the lowest cost major iron ore producer globally. Despite average inflation of 3.4% across Australia, WAIO maintained its leading position with a C1 unit cost of US$17.50/t with the increase in costs primarily due to increased productive movement (+9%) to enhance our inventory position across the value chain. We continue to optimise inventory levels in China and conduct portside sales to access different customers with a suite of specialised products. Portside sales in HY25 were ~9 Mt (HY24: 6 Mt). |
||
Asset outlook |
||
|
Production for FY25 remains unchanged at between 282 and 294 Mt (100% basis). Following the impact of Tropical Cyclone Zelia in February 2025, production is now no longer expected to be in the upper half of the range. Unit costs are unchanged and expected to be between US$18.00 and US$19.50/t.[xvi] Over the medium term we plan to grow production to >305 Mtpa (100% basis) and reduce unit costs to <US$17.50/txvi through increased volumes and improved labour productivity, such as the transition to autonomous haulage across all sites (excluding Yandi) and the improvements from the implementation of the BHP Operating System. Delivery of our medium-term production objectives is underpinned by: · PDP1 - which was completed in CY24, has unlocked improved car dumper and ship loader performance; · RTP1 - which is a multi-year program of work, and is expected to improve communications and signalling, operational safety and reduce variability on our WAIO rail network. RTP1 tie-in activity has increased in HY25 as planned; · Western Ridge Crusher Project - which is on track for first production in Q1 FY27. The project is expected to deliver an average of ~25 Mtpa (100% basis) from FY28 to replace production from the depleting orebodies around Newman at a capital intensity of US$38/t. Construction of the primary crusher is progressing as planned; and · Mobile fleet replacement, including trucks, excavators, ancillary and auxiliary equipment as they approach end of life. Average annual sustaining capital expenditure guidance over the medium term, excluding costs associated with operational decarbonisation and automation programs, remains unchanged at ~US$6.50/t.[xvii] |
||
12
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Samarco
|
Iron ore production |
Samarco settlement cash impact |
|
2.8 Mt Up 9% |
US$0.6 bn |
|
HY24 2.5 Mt FY25e 5 - 5.5 Mt |
FY25e1 ~US$2.8 bn (~R$17.2 bn) FY26e1 ~US$3.9 bn (~R$24.1 bn) FY27e1 ~US$1.6 bn (~R$9.7 bn) |
|
1 All Samarco settlement obligations are presented on a real, undiscounted, 100% basis and will accrue inflation at IPCA inflation rate. Payments will be made in Brazilian Reais. USD amounts are calculated using 31 December 2024 BRL/USD exchange rate of 6.19. |
|
Performance |
|
|
Samarco production increased 9% in HY25 to 2.8 Mt (5.5 Mt on a 100% basis), in line with the restart of an additional pelletising plant and the second concentrator in December, both ahead of schedule. This will increase production capacity to ~16 Mtpa of pellets (100% basis) once fully ramped up by early FY26. Production for FY25 is expected to be in the upper half of the 5 and 5.5 Mt range (10 and 11 Mt on a 100% basis). |
|
Financials |
|
|
On 25 October 2024, BHP announced an agreement between the Federal Government of Brazil, the State of Minas Gerais, the State of Espírito Santo, the public prosecutors and public defenders (Public Authorities) and Samarco, BHP Brasil and Vale (Agreement). The Agreement delivers a full and final settlement of the Framework Agreement obligations, the Federal Public Prosecution Office civil claim and other claims by the Public Authorities relating to the dam failure. Under the final settlement agreement, Samarco is the primary obligor for the settlement obligations and BHP Brasil and Vale are each secondary obligors of any obligation that Samarco cannot fund or perform in proportion to their shareholding at the time of the dam failure, which is 50% each. The Agreement was ratified by the Supreme Court of Brazil in Brasilia on 6 November 2024. The Agreement creates separate 'Obligation to Pay' and 'Obligations to Perform' for BHP Brasil relating to the Samarco dam failure. The cash impact of the obligations in HY25 was US$637 m. The obligations are expected to be R$17.2 bn (US$2.8 bn) in FY25, R$24.1 bn (US$3.9 bn) in FY26 and R$9.7 bn (US$1.6 bn) in FY27, on a 100% basis.[xviii] BHP Brasil's expected payments up to FY28 have been hedged to protect against potential FX volatility. For further information, please see Note 9 - Significant events - Samarco dam failure for the Samarco dam failure provision. |
|
13
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Coal
|
Production Steelmaking coal 8.9 Mt Down 21% HY24 11.3 Mt FY25e 16.5 - 19 Mt Energy coal 7.4 Mt Down 1% HY24 7.5 Mt FY25e 13 - 15 Mt
Average realised price Steelmaking coal US$ 206.37/t Down 23% HY24 US$266.43/t Energy coal - export US$124.42/t Up 1% HY24 US$123.29/t
Underlying EBITDA US$0.6 bn Down 42% HY24 US$1.0 bn 5% contribution to the Group's Underlying EBITDA 20% Underlying EBITDA margin
Underlying ROCE 6% HY24 15%
Capital and exploration expenditure US$0.3 bn HY24 US$0.4 bn FY25e ~US$0.6 bn |
Commodity review and outlook - Steelmaking coalSteelmaking coal prices trended lower in HY25 as global pig iron production declined, and supply in key regions recovered. Chinese domestic steelmaking coal production has ramped up quickly over the past six months resulting in higher inventories at local mines and ports in recent months. Australian steelmaking coal supply recovered modestly, along with the increases in Russian and US exports. Over the past two years, growing merchant coke exports from Indonesia and China have offered cost-effective options to ex-China blast furnace steelmakers. In the near term, the overall steelmaking coal market is expected to face a modest surplus. New blast furnace capacity additions in India and Southeast Asia are expected to offset the anticipated slowdown in steelmaking coal imports from China and OECD countries. Chinese domestic coal supply policy remains as the key uncertainty for global steelmaking coal markets. Supply recovery from Australia is likely to continue. Some high-cost suppliers in the US might curtail supply this year. We estimate the near-term cost support for higher quality coal at the US$180-200/t range. Over the longer term, we expect that higher quality steelmaking coals, such as those produced by our BMA assets, will be valued for their role in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions intensity of blast furnaces. This, combined with the growth by the steel industry in hard coking coal importing countries such as India, should see growing and resilient demand for decades to come. With the major seaborne supply region of Queensland not being conducive to long-life capital investment as a result of the current royalty regime, the scarcity value of higher quality steelmaking coals may also increase over time. Segment outlookOver the last few years, we have strategically refined our coal portfolio to focus on higher-quality steelmaking coal, positioning BMA well to meet strong long-term demand as the largest supplier of this higher quality coal in the seaborne market. Approximately 90% of BMA's products are priced based on PLV HCC FOB Qld indices (up from 55% in 2020), reflecting the high-quality nature of our steelmaking coal portfolio. To deliver on our medium-term targets at BMA, we are focused on stabilising raw coal inventory levels into CY26, and further optimising our operations by improving labour and fleet productivity. In June 2022, we made the decision to retain New South Wales Energy Coal (NSWEC) in our portfolio and plan to proceed with a managed process to close the mine by the end of FY30.
|
14
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
BMA
|
Steelmaking coal production1 |
Unit cost2,3 |
Underlying EBITDA |
|
8.9 Mt Down 21% |
US$ 128.46/t 0% |
US$0.4 bn Down 52% |
|
HY24 11.3 Mt FY25e 33 - 38 Mt (100% basis) Medium-term 43 - 45 Mtpa (100% basis) |
HY24 US$129.00/t FY25e US$112 - US$124/t Medium-term <US$110/t |
HY24 US$0.8 bn |
|
1 HY24 production includes 3.5 Mt (6.9 Mt on a 100% basis) from the Blackwater and Daunia mines which were divested on 2 April 2024. 2 Based on exchange rates of: HY25 AUD/USD 0.66 (realised); HY24 AUD/USD 0.65 (realised); FY25 and medium-term AUD/USD 0.66 (guidance). 3 Refer to Non-IFRS information for detailed unit cost reconciliation. |
||
Financial performance |
||
|
Underlying EBITDA was 52% lower predominately driven by lower average realised prices, which decreased 23% and had an unfavourable impact of US$0.7 bn, and the divestment of Blackwater and Daunia. These were partially offset by lower price-linked royalties and strong operational performance. During HY25 we made solid progress in re-establishing our raw coal inventory levels as planned, while at the same time improving strip ratios and increasing production 14% (excluding the now divested Blackwater and Daunia mines), all of which was underpinned by our highest half-year of prime stripping in four years, reflecting our continued focus on productivity. Queensland remains one of the highest coal royalty jurisdictions in the world following the change to the royalty regime in CY22. Combined with income taxes, this equates to an adjusted effective tax rate including royalties of ~60% (HY24: 62%). |
||
Asset outlook |
||
|
Production for FY25 remains unchanged at between 16.5 and 19 Mt (33 and 38 Mt on a 100% basis), with production now expected to be in the upper half of the range. Unit costs guidance for FY25 remains unchanged at between US$112 and US$124/t.xvi Unit costs are expected to be lower in H2 FY25 despite ongoing inflation, as a result of higher volumes following the completion of the longwall move and maintenance activities in HY25. Our focus on improving value chain stability will continue into CY26, rebuilding inventory to sustainable levels and normalising strip ratios, which will underpin higher production in the medium term. BMA is starting to realise the benefits from simplified operations and transport logistics, following the divestment of Blackwater and Daunia in FY24, including the shipment of all products through the Hay Point Coal Terminal. In the next five years, we expect to increase production to between 21.5 and 22.5 Mtpa (43 and 45 Mtpa on a 100% basis). At that point, we anticipate that unit costs will be <US$110/t. Given the negative impact on investment economics resulting from the change in coal royalty rates, and the increase in sovereign risk due to the decision to raise royalties without consultation, we will not be investing in any further growth at BMA, however we will sustain and optimise our existing operations. |
||
15
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
New South Wales Energy Coal
|
Energy coal production |
Underlying EBITDA |
|
7.4 Mt Down 1% |
US$0.17 bn Down 15% |
|
HY24 7.5 Mt FY25e 13 - 15 Mt |
HY24 US$0.20 bn |
Financial performance |
|
|
Underlying EBITDA decreased 15% primarily reflecting inventory drawdowns to offset the impacts of reduced truck availability and unfavourable weather conditions, as well as the impact of inflation and royalty increase on the cost base. |
|
Asset outlook |
|
|
Production guidance for FY25 remains unchanged at between 13 and 15 Mt. We still expect an outcome from the NSW Government in Q3 FY25 regarding the modification to continue mining past expiry of the existing consent at the end of FY26, to 30 June 2030. Continuation of mining will provide the time to enable us to work with key stakeholders and partners, to optimise plans for closure. As we look ahead to FY30, we expect to optimise mine plans and to minimise capital to realise value across the period. We also plan to conduct sequential backfilling of mined areas to complement progressive rehabilitation. |
|
16
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Group & Unallocated
Western Australia Nickel
|
Production 28 kt Down 31% HY24 40 kt
Average realised price[xix] US$16,386/t Down 12% HY24 US$18,602/t
Underlying EBITDA US$(0.3) bn Down 74% HY24 US$(0.2) bn
Capital and exploration expenditure US$0.2 bn HY24 US$0.8 bn FY25e ~US$0.2 bn |
Commodity review and outlookThe nickel industry remained in a surplus despite multiple curtailments across the industry in CY24, with prices moving into the cost curve due to steady growth in Indonesian supply. These trends are expected to continue in the near-term, suggesting that the market will remain in surplus. However, new Indonesian supply could face uncertainty as the government looks to manage mine supply to preserve the value of its nickel reserves and maintain prices at a sustainable level. Longer term, nickel is likely to be a key ingredient for high-performing batteries and will be a beneficiary of the overall electrification megatrend. Business outlookWestern Australia Nickel (WAN) was transitioned into temporary suspension in HY25. BHP intends to review the decision to temporarily suspend WAN by February 2027. Financial performance Underlying EBITDA decreased to a loss of US$(0.3) bn while operations transitioned to temporary suspension and ramp down activities occurred. |
Potash
|
Capital expenditure US$0.9 bn HY24 US$0.5 bn FY25e ~US$1.8 bn |
Commodity review and outlookPotash markets have been largely stable in HY25. Global demand was strong in CY24, with global shipments having returned to the previous CY20 peak level of 72 Mtpa, driven by good affordability and value chain restocking. Demand is expected to continue to grow in CY25 as farmers' affordability remains attractive in key regions and supply grows incrementally. In the medium-term, global potash shipments are expected to grow steadily across both traditional basins and emerging regions. Existing capacity in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) region is expected to return to normal operating rates soon, with some additional expansion projects having resumed construction. There is also potential for increased shipments from newer regions, such as Southeast Asia and Africa, in the coming years. Longer term, we believe that potash stands to benefit from the intersection of a number of global megatrends: rising population, changing diets and the need for the more sustainable intensification of agriculture. We consider this compelling demand picture, geopolitical uncertainty and the maturity of the existing production asset base in the FSU to provide an attractive entry opportunity for a low-cost asset in a lower-risk supply jurisdiction such as Saskatchewan, Canada. 17 BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024 Business outlookIn FY24 we approved an investment of US$4.9 bn for Jansen Stage 2 (JS2), which when combined with Jansen Stage 1 (JS1), will increase our total planned potash production capacity to ~8.5 Mtpa representing ~10% of the estimated global market when fully ramped up. We anticipate operating costs of ~US$0.3 bn in FY25, which include site services, overheads, and social investments. Once both stages are ramped up in the early 2030s, we expect Jansen to have operating costs at the low end of the first quartile of the cost curve. In preparation for the transition from construction to operation, we are working with local educational institutions to support the training and recruitment of skilled trades personnel. We have built strong sales and distribution capabilities and are working with buyers across all major potash consuming regions to convert MOUs to binding sales agreements. |
Jansen Stage 1
|
Progress |
Production target date |
Capital estimate |
|
63% |
End-CY26 |
US$5.7 bn |
Project update |
||
|
JS1 is 63% complete and remains on track for first production by the end of CY26 with a two year ramp up period. The continuous drum miner was recently commissioned, to create a horizontal tunnel linking our two main shafts, and we have completed all engineering works to support the remaining construction activities. In the remainder of FY25, we expect to complete work on the ventilation system in both the production and service shafts, and complete the installation of the steel tower in the service shaft. In FY25, we estimate capex of US$1.4 bn for JS1 (FY24: US$0.9 bn). |
||
Jansen Stage 2
|
Progress |
Production target date |
Capital estimate |
|
6% |
FY29 |
US$4.9 bn |
Project update |
||
|
JS2 is 6% complete, with first production expected in FY29, followed by a three year ramp up period. We continued to progress detailed engineering for the shaft, mine and non-process infrastructure areas, and recently completed the expansion of the foundation works for the raw ore storage. For the remainder of FY25, we will continue to progress critical path engineering, and we intend to award contracts for construction-related activities. In FY25, we estimate capex of US$0.4 bn for JS2 (FY24: US$0.2 bn). |
||
18
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Minerals exploration and early-stage entry
|
Exploration expenditure US$199 m HY24 US$199 m
|
Our tier 1 assets continue to demonstrate significant resource potential and brownfield exploration opportunities. We are undertaking exploration drilling at Copper South Australia. In August 2024 we announced an Inferred Mineral Resource at Oak Dam of 1,340 Mt at 0.66% copper and 0.33 g/t gold grades following initial drilling results at OD Deeps with intercept grades >1.0% copper. In January 2025, we completed the formation of Vicuña, a 50/50 joint venture with Lundin Mining. BHP's total cash payment for the transaction was US$2.0 bn. Vicuña is a long-term strategic alliance between BHP and Lundin Mining to develop the combined FDS and Josemaria projects through an integrated project plan. The proximity of FDS and Josemaria allows for greater economies of scale and increased optionality for staged expansions, as well as the incorporation of future exploration as the development matures. Vicuña expects to spend US$312 m (100% basis) in CY25, with activities focused on project studies and mine planning, exploration drilling and access road construction. Drilling is currently underway at FDS and Cumbre Verde and will continue throughout the year. The drill program at FDS will focus on resource growth with multiple step-out targets in all directions from zones of known mineralization, including both the Bonita and Aurora Zones along with infill drilling to support an initial sulphide mineral resource estimate. Drilling at Cumbre Verde will follow up on the initial results from last year and target the same mineralized system and structures discovered to the north of the project. The advancement of Vicuña aims to line up with the application window of the Incentive Regime for Large Investments ("RIGI") in Argentina. The incentive regime provides a clear fiscal stability framework for the overall operation during the initial construction period and future phased expansions. We also continued to progress greenfield exploration activities in Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Serbia, Sweden and the United States. The 2025 cohort of BHP's Xplor program has been announced, with eight applicants selected for the program. The geographically diverse participants have a strong focus on copper, and were chosen based on the high quality of their exploration programs, strong leadership, and innovative approaches to leveraging leading-edge technologies and data.
|
19
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Appendix 1
|
|
Financial Report for the half year ended 31 December 2024 |
Financial performance summary1
A summary of performance for HY25 and HY24 is presented below.
Key group metrics
|
Half year ended 31 December |
HY25 US$M |
HY24 US$M |
Change % |
|
Revenue |
25,176 |
27,232 |
(8%) |
|
Profit from operations |
9,126 |
4,803 |
90% |
|
Attributable profit |
4,416 |
927 |
376% |
|
Basic earnings per share (cents) |
87.1 |
18.3 |
376% |
|
Interim dividend per share (cents) |
50 |
72 |
(31%) |
|
Net operating cash flow |
8,317 |
8,884 |
(6%) |
|
Capital and exploration expenditure |
5,205 |
4,744 |
10% |
|
Net debt |
11,793 |
12,648 |
(7%) |
|
Underlying EBITDA |
12,362 |
13,875 |
(11%) |
|
Underlying attributable profit |
5,082 |
6,569 |
(23%) |
|
Underlying basic earnings per ordinary share (cents) |
100.2 |
129.6 |
(23%) |
Key asset metrics
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 US$M |
Revenue2 |
Underlying EBITDA3 |
Underlying EBIT3 |
Exceptional items4 |
Net operating assets3 |
Capital expenditure |
Exploration gross |
Exploration to profit |
|
Copper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escondida |
5,828 |
3,468 |
2,984 |
|
13,102 |
1,168 |
|
|
|
Pampa Norte5 |
1,254 |
545 |
260 |
|
4,860 |
338 |
|
|
|
Antamina6 |
841 |
532 |
412 |
|
1,529 |
246 |
|
|
|
Copper South Australia7 |
2,083 |
742 |
407 |
|
16,804 |
598 |
|
|
|
Other6 |
70 |
(75) |
(99) |
|
482 |
64 |
|
|
|
Total Copper from Group production |
10,076 |
5,212 |
3,964 |
− |
36,777 |
2,414 |
|
|
|
Third-party products |
1,030 |
69 |
69 |
− |
− |
− |
|
|
|
Total Copper |
11,106 |
5,281 |
4,033 |
− |
36,777 |
2,414 |
77 |
77 |
|
Adjustment for equity accounted investments6 |
(841) |
(270) |
(150) |
− |
− |
(246) |
(1) |
(1) |
|
Total Copper statutory result |
10,265 |
5,011 |
3,883 |
− |
36,777 |
2,168 |
76 |
76 |
|
Iron Ore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Western Australia Iron Ore |
11,430 |
7,140 |
6,161 |
|
21,531 |
1,369 |
|
|
|
Samarco8 |
− |
− |
− |
|
(6,259) |
− |
|
|
|
Other |
64 |
45 |
33 |
|
(168) |
7 |
|
|
|
Total Iron Ore from Group production |
11,494 |
7,185 |
6,194 |
(162) |
15,104 |
1,376 |
|
|
|
Third-party products |
14 |
2 |
2 |
− |
− |
− |
|
|
|
Total Iron Ore |
11,508 |
7,187 |
6,196 |
(162) |
15,104 |
1,376 |
58 |
38 |
|
Adjustment for equity accounted investments |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Total Iron Ore statutory result |
11,508 |
7,187 |
6,196 |
(162) |
15,104 |
1,376 |
58 |
38 |
|
Coal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance |
1,853 |
391 |
167 |
|
6,791 |
214 |
|
|
|
New South Wales Energy Coal10 |
1,027 |
213 |
163 |
|
(145) |
61 |
|
|
|
Other |
− |
10 |
(6) |
|
21 |
6 |
|
|
|
Total Coal from Group production |
2,880 |
614 |
324 |
− |
6,667 |
281 |
|
|
|
Third-party products |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
|
|
Total Coal |
2,880 |
614 |
324 |
− |
6,667 |
281 |
7 |
2 |
|
Adjustment for equity accounted investments10 |
(74) |
(47) |
(35) |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Total Coal statutory result |
2,806 |
567 |
289 |
− |
6,667 |
281 |
7 |
2 |
|
Group and unallocated items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potash |
− |
(133) |
(134) |
|
7,475 |
940 |
− |
− |
|
Western Australia Nickel11 |
592 |
(303) |
(303) |
|
(75) |
176 |
17 |
17 |
|
Other12 |
5 |
33 |
(251) |
|
(1,805) |
65 |
41 |
41 |
|
Total Group and unallocated items |
597 |
(403) |
(688) |
(392) |
5,595 |
1,181 |
58 |
58 |
|
Inter-segment adjustment |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Total Group |
25,176 |
12,362 |
9,680 |
(554) |
64,143 |
5,006 |
199 |
174 |
20
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
Half year ended 31 December 2023 US$M |
Revenue2 |
Underlying EBITDA3 |
Underlying EBIT3 |
Exceptional items4 |
Net operating assets3 |
Capital expenditure |
Exploration gross |
Exploration to profit |
|
Copper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escondida |
4,427 |
2,347 |
1,897 |
|
12,737 |
853 |
|
|
|
Pampa Norte5 |
1,133 |
408 |
199 |
|
4,740 |
392 |
|
|
|
Antamina6 |
730 |
469 |
364 |
|
1,454 |
258 |
|
|
|
Copper South Australia7 |
1,853 |
591 |
232 |
|
16,061 |
581 |
|
|
|
Other6 |
22 |
(107) |
(141) |
|
322 |
68 |
|
|
|
Total Copper from Group production |
8,165 |
3,708 |
2,551 |
− |
35,314 |
2,152 |
|
|
|
Third-party products |
1,223 |
28 |
28 |
− |
− |
− |
|
|
|
Total Copper |
9,388 |
3,736 |
2,579 |
− |
35,314 |
2,152 |
89 |
89 |
|
Adjustment for equity accounted investments6 |
(730) |
(263) |
(141) |
− |
− |
(258) |
(1) |
(1) |
|
Total Copper statutory result |
8,658 |
3,473 |
2,438 |
− |
35,314 |
1,894 |
88 |
88 |
|
Iron Ore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Western Australia Iron Ore |
13,991 |
9,646 |
8,679 |
|
20,937 |
927 |
|
|
|
Samarco8 |
− |
− |
− |
|
(6,272) |
− |
|
|
|
Other |
59 |
21 |
9 |
|
(127) |
− |
|
|
|
Total Iron Ore from Group production |
14,050 |
9,667 |
8,688 |
(2,899) |
14,538 |
927 |
|
|
|
Third-party products |
12 |
(1) |
(1) |
− |
− |
− |
|
|
|
Total Iron Ore |
14,062 |
9,666 |
8,687 |
(2,899) |
14,538 |
927 |
44 |
22 |
|
Adjustment for equity accounted investments |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Total Iron Ore statutory result |
14,062 |
9,666 |
8,687 |
(2,899) |
14,538 |
927 |
44 |
22 |
|
Coal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance9 |
2,882 |
810 |
529 |
|
6,863 |
303 |
|
|
|
New South Wales Energy Coal10 |
980 |
257 |
216 |
|
(144) |
43 |
|
|
|
Other |
− |
(31) |
(44) |
|
(27) |
6 |
|
|
|
Total Coal from Group production |
3,862 |
1,036 |
701 |
− |
6,692 |
352 |
|
|
|
Third-party products |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
|
|
Total Coal |
3,862 |
1,036 |
701 |
− |
6,692 |
352 |
7 |
2 |
|
Adjustment for equity accounted investments10 |
(76) |
(61) |
(49) |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Total Coal statutory result |
3,786 |
975 |
652 |
− |
6,692 |
352 |
7 |
2 |
|
Group and unallocated items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potash |
− |
(129) |
(130) |
|
5,247 |
533 |
1 |
1 |
|
Western Australia Nickel11 |
725 |
(174) |
(240) |
|
(311) |
780 |
27 |
25 |
|
Other12 |
1 |
64 |
(174) |
|
(666) |
59 |
32 |
32 |
|
Total Group and unallocated items |
726 |
(239) |
(544) |
(3,531) |
4,270 |
1,372 |
60 |
58 |
|
Inter-segment adjustment |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Total Group |
27,232 |
13,875 |
11,233 |
(6,430) |
60,814 |
4,545 |
199 |
170 |
1 Group profit before taxation comprised Underlying EBITDA, exceptional items, depreciation, amortisation and net impairments of US$3,236 m (HY24: US$9,072 m) and net finance costs of US$457 m (HY24: US$821 m).
2 Total revenue from thermal coal sales, including BMA and NSWEC, was US$955 m (HY24: US$980 m).
3 For more information on the reconciliation of non-IFRS financial information to our statutory measures, reasons for usefulness and calculation methodology, please refer to non-IFRS financial information.
4 Excludes exceptional items relating to Net finance costs US$208 m and Income tax benefit US$96 m (HY24: Net finance costs US$190 m and Income tax benefit US$978 m).
5 Includes Spence and Cerro Colorado. Cerro Colorado entered temporary care and maintenance in December 2023.
6 Antamina, SolGold and Resolution (the latter two included in Other) are equity accounted investments and their financial information presented above with the exception of net operating assets reflects BHP Group's share. Group and Copper level information is reported on a statutory basis which reflects the application of the equity accounting method in preparing the Group financial statements - in accordance with IFRS. Underlying EBITDA of the Group and the Copper segment, includes D&A, net finance costs and taxation expense of US$270 m (HY24: US$263 m) related to equity accounted investments.
7 Includes Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena.
8 Samarco is an equity accounted investment and its financial information presented above, with the exception of net operating assets, reflects BHP Billiton Brasil Ltda's share. All financial impacts following the Samarco dam failure have been reported as exceptional items in both reporting periods.
9 On 2 April 2024 BHP and Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd (MDP) completed the divestment of the Blackwater and Daunia mines (which were part of the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to Whitehaven Coal). The Group's share of Revenue, Underlying EBITDA, D&A, Underlying EBIT and Capital expenditure is included within 'BHP Mitsubishi Alliance' in comparative periods. Blackwater and Daunia assets and liabilities were classified as 'Held For Sale' at 31 December 2023 and were therefore excluded from Net Operating Assets at 31 December 2023.
10 Includes NCIG which is an equity accounted investment and its financial information presented above, with the exception of net operating assets, reflects BHP Group's share. Total Coal statutory result excludes contribution related to NCIG until future profits exceed accumulated losses.
11 Western Australia Nickel is comprised of the Nickel West operations and the West Musgrave project, both of which transitioned into temporary suspension in the period ending December 2024.
12 Other includes functions, other unallocated operations including legacy assets and consolidation adjustments. Revenue not attributable to reportable segments comprises the sale of freight and fuel to third parties, as well as revenues from unallocated operations. Exploration and technology activities are recognised within relevant segments.
21
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Underlying EBITDA waterfall
The following table and commentary describes the impact of the principal factorsiii that affected Underlying EBITDA for HY25 compared with HY24:
|
US$M |
Total Group |
Copper |
Iron ore |
Coal |
Group and unallocated |
|
Half year ended 31 December 2023 |
13,875 |
3,473 |
9,666 |
975 |
(239) |
|
Net price impact |
(1,935) |
937 |
(2,477) |
(395) |
- |
|
Change in sales prices |
(2,430) |
997 |
(2,746) |
(681) |
- |
|
Price linked costs |
495 |
(60) |
269 |
286 |
- |
|
|
|
Escondida: New royalty regime introduced in January 2024. |
WAIO: Lower royalties in line with lower prices. |
BMA: Lower royalties in line with lower prices. |
|
|
Changes in volumes |
1,109 |
749 |
71 |
289 |
- |
|
|
|
Escondida: Higher volumes due to higher concentrator feed grade of 1.03% (HY24: 0.81%), and higher recoveries as mining progressed into areas of higher grade ore as planned. This was partially offset by planned lower cathode production as the integration of the Full SaL project continued. |
WAIO: Increased capacity unlocked by the Port Debottlenecking Project (PDP1), higher volumes delivered from the Central Pilbara hub (South Flank and Mining Area C) following the completion of the ramp up of South Flank in HY24, partially offset by the planned increase in tie-in activity of the Rail Technology Programme 1 (RTP1) and wet weather in December 24. |
BMA: Improved strip ratios and increased prime stripping as a result of an uplift in truck productivity, partially offset by slower production rates at Broadmeadow following the longwall move due to geotechnical characteristics as well as the planned increase in raw coal inventory to improve the stability of the value chain. |
|
|
Change in controllable cash costs |
(590) |
(291) |
(53) |
(129) |
(117) |
|
Operating cash costs |
(580) |
(284) |
(45) |
(129) |
(122) |
|
|
|
Escondida: Primarily one-off labour related costs, combined with higher operational and maintenance contractor costs to support higher material moved. |
WAIO: Additional planned shutdown activity, partially offset by favourable inventory movements. |
BMA: Increased stripping enabled by improved truck productivity. |
G&U: Higher costs associated with studies & various improvement projects. |
|
Exploration and business development |
(10) |
(7) |
(8) |
- |
5 |
|
Change in other costs |
178 |
88 |
70 |
29 |
(9) |
|
Exchange rates |
380 |
142 |
153 |
69 |
16 |
|
Inflation on costs |
(335) |
(174) |
(74) |
(62) |
(25) |
|
|
|
Inflation rate of 3.4% for Australia and 4.3% for Chile |
|||
|
Fuel, energy, and consumable price movements |
67 |
30 |
15 |
22 |
- |
|
|
|
Escondida, Spence and Copper SA: Primarily due to lower diesel prices, partially offset by higher electricity prices. |
WAIO: Primarily due to lower diesel prices. |
BMA & NSWEC: Primarily due to lower diesel prices. |
|
|
Non-Cash |
66 |
90 |
(24) |
- |
- |
|
|
|
Escondida: Higher stripping capitalisation reflecting phase of mine plan. |
|
|
|
|
Change in other |
(275) |
55 |
(90) |
(202) |
(38) |
|
Asset sales |
(17) |
- |
1 |
17 |
(35) |
|
Ceased and sold operations |
(353) |
(1) |
- |
(226) |
(126) |
|
|
|
|
|
BMA: Contribution of Blackwater and Daunia before sale in April 2024. |
WAN: Operations transitioned into temporary suspension in December 2024 as planned. |
|
Other |
95 |
56 |
(91) |
7 |
123 |
|
|
|
Antamina: Higher profit driven by higher copper prices. |
WAIO: Higher freight and distribution costs due to higher freight rate. |
|
G&U: Higher recovery of freight costs caused by movements in the freight index on continuous voyage charter (CVC) voyages. |
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 |
12,362 |
5,011 |
7,187 |
567 |
(403) |
22
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Exchange rates
The following exchange rates relative to the US dollar have been applied in the financial information:
|
|
|
|
As at |
As at |
As at |
|
|
Average |
Average |
31 December |
31 December |
30 June |
|
|
HY25 |
HY24 |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Australian dollar1 |
0.66 |
0.65 |
0.62 |
0.68 |
0.67 |
|
Chilean peso |
947 |
874 |
996 |
877 |
944 |
1 Displayed as US$ to A$1 based on common convention.
Capital and exploration expenditure
Historical capital and exploration expenditure and guidance are summarised below:
|
|
FY25e |
HY25 |
HY24 |
FY24 |
|
|
US$M |
US$M |
US$M |
US$M |
|
Maintenance and decarbonisation1 |
3.0 |
1,357 |
1,350 |
2,956 |
|
Development - Minerals |
6.5 |
3,649 |
3,195 |
5,860 |
|
Capital expenditure (purchases of property, plant and equipment) |
9.5 |
5,006 |
4,545 |
8,816 |
|
Add: exploration expenditure |
0.5 |
199 |
199 |
457 |
|
Capital and exploration expenditure |
~10.0 |
5,205 |
4,744 |
9,273 |
1 Maintenance capital includes non-discretionary spend for the following purposes: deferred development and production stripping; risk reduction; compliance and asset integrity. Includes capitalised deferred stripping of US$517 m for HY25 (HY24: US$441 m) and US$1.1 bn estimated for FY25.
Major Projects
|
Commodity |
Project and ownership |
Project scope / capacity |
Capital |
First |
Progress |
|
Potash |
Jansen Stage 1 |
Design, engineering and construction of an underground potash mine and surface infrastructure, with capacity to produce 4.15 Mtpa. |
5,723 |
End-CY26 |
Project is 63% complete |
|
Potash |
Jansen Stage 2 |
Development of additional mining districts, completion of the second shaft hoist infrastructure, expansion of processing facilities and addition of rail cars to facilitate production of an incremental 4.36 Mtpa. |
4,859 |
FY29 |
Project is 6% complete |
Production and unit cost guidance
Historical production and production guidance are summarised below:
|
Production |
Medium-term guidance |
FY25 guidance |
HY25 |
HY24 |
HY25 vs HY24 |
|
|
Copper (kt) |
|
1,845 - 2,045 |
|
987.0 |
894.4 |
10% |
|
Escondida (kt) |
900 - 1,0001 |
1,180 - 1,300 |
Unchanged |
644.0 |
527.9 |
22% |
|
Pampa Norte (kt)2 |
~250 |
240 - 270 |
Unchanged |
126.3 |
138.1 |
(9%) |
|
Copper South Australia (kt) |
|
300 - 325 |
Lowered |
144.6 |
153.7 |
(6%) |
|
Antamina (kt) |
|
115 - 135 |
Unchanged |
66.8 |
71.7 |
(7%) |
|
Carajás (kt) |
|
- |
- |
5.3 |
3.0 |
77% |
|
Iron ore (Mt) |
|
255 - 265.5 |
|
130.9 |
129.0 |
1% |
|
WAIO (Mt) |
|
250 - 260 |
Original3 |
128.1 |
126.5 |
1% |
|
WAIO (100% basis) (Mt) |
>305 |
282 - 294 |
Original3 |
144.7 |
142.1 |
2% |
|
Samarco (Mt) |
|
5 - 5.5 |
Upper half |
2.8 |
2.5 |
9% |
|
Steelmaking coal - BMA (Mt) |
21.5 - 22.5 |
16.5 - 19 |
|
8.9 |
11.3 |
(21%) |
|
BMA (100% basis) (Mt) |
43 - 45 |
33 - 38 |
Upper half |
17.9 |
22.6 |
(21%) |
|
Energy coal - NSWEC (Mt) |
|
13 - 15 |
Upper half |
7.4 |
7.5 |
(1%) |
|
Nickel - Western Australia Nickel (kt) |
|
- |
- |
27.6 |
39.8 |
(31%) |
1 Medium term refers to FY27 onwards. Production for FY25 and FY26 is expected to average between 1,200 and 1,300 ktpa.
2 HY24 includes 11 kt from Cerro Colorado which entered temporary care and maintenance in December 2023. Excluding these volumes, HY25 production decreased 1%. HY25 production and FY25 production guidance is for Spence only. Medium-term guidance refers to an average of 250 ktpa over five years on the basis that remediation of the previously identified TSF anomalies does not impact operations.
23
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
3 In the Q2 FY25 Operational Review, WAIO production for FY25 was expected to be in the 'upper half' of the range. Following the impact of Tropical
Cyclone Zelia in February 2025, production is now no longer expected to be in the upper half of the range.
Historical costs and cost guidance for our major assets are summarised below:
|
|
|
|
|
HY25 at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
guidance |
realised |
|
HY25 |
|
|
Medium-term |
FY25 |
exchange |
exchange |
|
vs |
|
|
Unit cost1 |
|
guidance2 |
guidance2 |
rates2 |
rates3 |
HY24 |
HY24 |
|
Escondida unit cost (US$/lb)4 |
|
1.50 - 1.80 |
1.30 - 1.60 |
1.43 |
1.33 |
1.51 |
-12% |
|
Spence unit cost (US$/lb) |
|
2.05 - 2.35 |
2.00 - 2.30 |
2.15 |
2.01 |
1.98 |
1% |
|
Copper SA unit cost (US$/lb) 5 |
|
|
1.30 - 1.80 |
1.99 |
1.57 |
1.65 |
-5% |
|
WAIO unit cost (US$/t)6 |
|
<17.50 |
18.00 - 19.50 |
18.92 |
18.19 |
18.46 |
-1% |
|
BMA unit cost (US$/t) |
|
<110 |
112 - 124 |
131.24 |
128.46 |
129.00 |
0% |
1 Refer to Non-IFRS information for detailed unit cost reconciliations and definitions.
2 FY25 and medium-term unit cost guidance are based on exchange rates of AUD/USD 0.66 and USD/CLP 842.
3 Based on exchange rates of: HY25 AUD/USD 0.66 and USD/CLP 947 (realised); HY24 AUD/USD 0.65 and USD/CLP 874 (realised).
4 Escondida unit costs for FY24 onwards exclude revenue-based government royalties. Medium-term refers to FY27 onwards.
5 FY25 unit cost guidance is based on prices for by-products of gold US$2,000/oz and uranium US$80/lb.
6 The breakdown of C1 unit costs, excluding third party royalties, are detailed on page 12.
24
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Health, safety and social value[1]
Key safety indicators
|
|
Target/Goal |
HY25 |
FY24 |
HY24 |
|
Fatalities |
Zero work-related fatalities |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
High-potential injury (HPI) frequency[2] |
Year-on-year improvement in HPI frequency |
0.06 |
0.11 |
0.09 |
|
Total recordable injury frequency (TRIF)2 |
Year-on-year improvement in TRIF |
4.3 |
4.8 |
4.6 |
Social value: key indicators scorecard
|
|
Target/Goal |
HY25 |
FY24 |
HY24 |
|
Operational GHG emissions |
Reduce operational GHG emissions by at least 30% from FY20 levels by FY30 |
4.5 |
9.2 |
4.7 |
|
Value chain GHG emissions (Scope 3): Committed funding in steelmaking partnerships and ventures to date (US$m) |
Steelmaking: 2030 goal to support industry to develop steel production technology capable of 30% lower GHG emissions intensity relative to conventional blast furnace steelmaking, with widespread adoption expected post-CY30. |
✓
|
140 |
✓ |
|
Value chain GHG emissions: Reduction in GHG emissions intensity of BHP-chartered shipping of our products from CY08 (%)[4] |
Maritime transportation: 2030 goal to support 40% GHG emissions intensity reduction of BHP-chartered shipping of BHP products |
44 |
42 |
43 |
|
Social investment (US$m BHP equity share) |
Voluntary investment focused on the six pillars of our social value framework |
37.4 |
136.7 |
36.1 |
|
Indigenous procurement spend (US$m)[5] |
Key metric for part of our 2030 Indigenous partnerships goal, to support the delivery of mutually beneficial outcomes |
452 |
609 |
289 |
|
Female employee participation[6] (%) |
Aspirational goal for gender balanced employee workforce[7] by the end of CY25 |
38.9 |
37.1 |
36.2[8] |
|
Indigenous employee participation6,[9] (%) |
Australia: aim to achieve 9.7% by the end of FY27 |
8.6 |
8.3 |
8.4[10] |
|
Chile: aim to achieve 10.0% by the end of FY25 |
10.0 |
10.1 |
10.2 |
|
|
Canada: aim to achieve 20.0% by the end of FY26 |
10.4 |
11.2 |
9.4 |
|
|
Area under nature-positive management practices[11] (%) |
2030 goal of having at least 30% of the land and water we steward[12] under conservation, restoration or regenerative practices |
1.6 |
1.6 |
- |
The Financial Report for the half year ended 31 December 2024 has been prepared on the basis of accounting policies and methods of computation consistent with those applied in the 30 June 2024 financial statements contained within the Annual Report of the Group. This news release including the Financial Report is unaudited. Variance analysis relates to the relative financial and/or production performance of BHP and/or its operations during the December 2024 half year compared with the December 2023 half year, unless otherwise noted. Medium term refers to a five-year horizon, unless otherwise noted. Numbers presented may not add up precisely to the totals provided due to rounding.
The following abbreviations may have been used throughout this release: silver (Ag); gold (Au); billion tonnes (Bt); cost and freight (CFR); cost, insurance and freight (CIF); carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e); copper (Cu); dry metric tonne unit (dmtu); free on board (FOB); giga litres (GL); greenhouse gas (GHG); grams per tonne (g/t); high-potential injury (HPI); kilograms per tonne (kg/t); kilometre (km); million ounces per annum (Mozpa); million pounds (Mlb); million tonnes (Mt); million tonnes per annum (Mtpa); ounces (oz); OZ Minerals Ltd (OZL); pounds (lb); thousand ounces (koz); thousand ounces per annum (kozpa); thousand tonnes (kt); thousand tonnes per annum (ktpa); thousand tonnes per day (ktpd); sulphur (S); tonnes (t); total recordable injury frequency (TRIF); uranium (U); uranium oxide (U3O8); and wet metric tonnes (wmt).
Forward-looking statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include all statements, other than statements of historical or present facts, including: statements regarding trends in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; demand for commodities; global market conditions, reserves and resources estimates; development and production forecasts; guidance; expectations, plans, strategies and objectives of management; climate scenarios; approval of projects and consummation of transactions; closure, divestment, acquisition or integration of certain assets, operations or facilities (including associated costs or benefits); anticipated production or construction commencement dates; capital costs and scheduling; operating costs and availability of materials and skilled employees; anticipated productive lives of projects, mines and facilities; the availability, implementation and adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence; provisions and contingent liabilities; and tax, legal and other regulatory developments.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology, including, but not limited to, 'aim', 'ambition', 'anticipate', 'aspiration', 'believe', 'commit', 'continue', 'could', 'ensure', 'estimate', 'expect', 'forecast', 'goal', 'guidance', 'intend', 'likely', 'may', 'milestone', 'must', 'need', 'objective', 'outlook', 'pathways', 'plan', 'project', 'schedule', 'seek', 'should', 'strategy', 'target', 'trend', 'will', 'would', or similar words. These statements discuss future expectations or performance, or provide other forward-looking information.
Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and reflect judgements, assumptions, estimates and other information available, as at the date of this release. These statements do not represent guarantees or predictions of future financial or operational performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, and which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements contained in this release. BHP cautions against reliance on any forward-looking statements.
For example, our future revenues from our assets, projects or mines described in this release will be based, in part, on the market price of the commodities produced, which may vary significantly from current levels or those reflected in our reserves and resources estimates. These variations, if materially adverse, may affect the timing or the feasibility of the development of a particular project, the expansion of certain facilities or mines, or the continuation of existing assets.
Other factors that may affect our future operations and performance, including the actual construction or production commencement dates, revenues, costs or production output and anticipated lives of assets, mines or facilities include our ability to profitably produce and deliver the products extracted to applicable markets; the impact of economic and geopolitical factors, including foreign currency exchange rates on the market prices of the commodities we produce and competition in the markets in which we operate; activities of government authorities in the countries where we sell our products and in the countries where we are exploring or developing projects, facilities or mines, including increases in taxes and royalties or implementation of trade or export restrictions; changes in environmental and other regulations; political or geopolitical uncertainty; labour unrest; weather, climate variability or other manifestations of climate change; and other factors identified in the risk factors discussed in OFR 8.1 in the Annual Report and BHP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') (including in Annual Reports on Form 20-F) which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Except as required by applicable regulations or by law, BHP does not undertake to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events.
Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.
Emissions data
Due to the inherent uncertainty and limitations in measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the calculation methodologies used in the preparation of such data, all GHG emissions data or references to GHG emissions (including ratios or percentages) in this release are estimates. Emissions calculation and reporting methodologies may change or be progressively refined over time resulting in the need to restate previously reported data. There may also be differences in the manner that third parties calculate or report GHG emissions compared to BHP, which means that third-party data may not be comparable to our data. For information on how we calculate our GHG emissions, refer to the BHP GHG Emissions Calculation Methodology 2024, available at bhp.com.
No offer of securities
Nothing in this release should be construed as either an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell BHP securities in any jurisdiction, or be treated or relied upon as a recommendation or advice by BHP.
Reliance on third party information
The views expressed in this release contain information that has been derived from publicly available sources that have not been independently verified. No representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information. This release should not be relied upon as a recommendation or forecast by BHP.
No financial or investment advice - South Africa
BHP does not provide any financial or investment 'advice' as that term is defined in the South African Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 37 of 2002, and we strongly recommend that you seek professional advice.
BHP and its subsidiaries
In this release, the terms 'BHP', the 'Company, the 'Group', 'BHP Group', 'our business', 'organisation', 'we', 'us', 'our' and ourselves' refer to BHP Group Limited and, except where the context otherwise requires, our subsidiaries. Refer to Note 30 - Subsidiaries of the Financial Statements in the Annual Report for a list of our significant subsidiaries. Those terms do not include non-operated assets. Our non-operated assets include Antamina, Samarco and Vicuña.
This release covers BHP's functions and assets (including those under exploration, projects in development or execution phases, sites and operations that are closed or in the closure phase) that have been wholly owned and operated by BHP or that have been owned as a BHP-operated joint venture1 (referred to in this release as 'operated assets' or 'operations') during the period from 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024 unless otherwise stated.
BHP also holds interests in assets that are owned as a joint venture but not operated by BHP (referred to in this release as 'non-operated joint ventures' or 'non-operated assets'). Notwithstanding that this release may include production, financial and other information from non-operated assets, non-operated assets are not included in the BHP Group and, as a result, statements regarding our operations, assets and values apply only to our operated assets unless stated otherwise.
1 References in this release to a 'joint venture' are used for convenience to collectively describe assets that are not wholly owned by BHP. Such references are not intended to characterise the legal relationship between the owners of the asset.
Certain sections of this release include data in relation to the Daunia and Blackwater mines, which were divested in FY24. Data in relation to the Daunia and Blackwater mines is shown for the period up to completion on 2 April 2024, unless stated otherwise.
26
Authorised for lodgement by:
The Board of BHP Group Limited
Contacts
|
Media
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|
Investor Relations
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|
|
|
|
|
Australia and Asia
Josie Brophy Mobile: +61 417 622 839
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Gabrielle Notley Mobile: +61 411 071 715
North America
Megan Hjulfors Mobile: +1 403 605 2314
Latin America
Renata Fernandez Mobile: +56 9 8229 5357 |
|
Australia and Asia
John-Paul Santamaria +61 499 006 018
Europe, Middle East and Africa
James Bell +44 7961 636 432
Americas
Monica Nettleton +1 416 518 6293 |
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|
|
|
|
BHP Group Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 LEI WZE1WSENV6JSZFK0JC28 Registered in Australia Level 18, 171 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015 BHP Group is headquartered in Australia |
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bhp.com |
||
28
Financial Report
Financial Report
Half year ended
31 December 2024
29
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Contents
Half Year Financial Statements Page
Consolidated Income Statement for the half year ended 31 December 2024 31
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the half year ended 31 December 2024 31
Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024 32
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the half year ended 31 December 2024 33
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the half year ended 31 December 2024 34
Notes to the Financial Statements 35
1. Basis of preparation
2. Exceptional items
3. Interests in associates and joint venture entities
4. Net finance costs
5. Income tax expense
6. Earnings per share
7. Dividends
8. Financial risk management - Fair values
9. Significant events - Samarco dam failure
10. Subsequent events
Directors' Report 51
Directors' Declaration of Responsibility 53
Auditor's Independence Declaration to the Directors of BHP Group Limited 54
Independent Review Report 55
30
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Consolidated Income Statement for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
|
Notes |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Revenue |
|
25,176 |
27,232 |
55,658 |
|
Other income |
|
222 |
261 |
1,285 |
|
Expenses excluding net finance costs |
|
(16,367) |
(19,982) |
(36,750) |
|
Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses |
3 |
95 |
(2,708) |
(2,656) |
|
Profit from operations |
|
9,126 |
4,803 |
17,537 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial expenses |
|
(779) |
(1,164) |
(2,198) |
|
Financial income |
|
322 |
343 |
709 |
|
Net finance costs |
4 |
(457) |
(821) |
(1,489) |
|
Profit before taxation |
|
8,669 |
3,982 |
16,048 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense |
|
(2,904) |
(2,215) |
(6,015) |
|
Royalty-related taxation (net of income tax benefit) |
|
(480) |
(61) |
(432) |
|
Total taxation expense |
5 |
(3,384) |
(2,276) |
(6,447) |
|
Profit after taxation |
|
5,285 |
1,706 |
9,601 |
|
Attributable to non-controlling interests |
|
869 |
779 |
1,704 |
|
Attributable to BHP shareholders |
|
4,416 |
927 |
7,897 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per ordinary share (cents) |
6 |
87.1 |
18.3 |
155.8 |
|
Diluted earnings per ordinary share (cents) |
6 |
86.9 |
18.3 |
155.5 |
The accompanying notes form part of this half year Financial Report.
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
|
|
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Profit after taxation |
|
5,285 |
1,706 |
9,601 |
|
Other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to the income statement: |
|
|
|
|
|
Hedges: |
|
|
|
|
|
(Losses)/gains taken to equity |
|
(88) |
114 |
(33) |
|
Losses/(gains) transferred to the income statement |
|
33 |
(92) |
49 |
|
Tax recognised within other comprehensive income |
|
16 |
(7) |
(5) |
|
Total items that may be reclassified subsequently to the income statement |
|
(39) |
15 |
11 |
|
Items that will not be reclassified to the income statement: |
|
|
|
|
|
Re-measurement (losses)/gains on pension and medical schemes |
|
(6) |
2 |
41 |
|
Equity investments held at fair value |
|
17 |
(47) |
(30) |
|
Tax recognised within other comprehensive income |
|
1 |
− |
(13) |
|
Total items that will not be reclassified to the income statement |
|
12 |
(45) |
(2) |
|
Total other comprehensive (loss)/income |
|
(27) |
(30) |
9 |
|
Total comprehensive income |
|
5,258 |
1,676 |
9,610 |
|
Attributable to non-controlling interests |
|
869 |
779 |
1,708 |
|
Attributable to BHP shareholders |
|
4,389 |
897 |
7,902 |
The accompanying notes form part of this half year Financial Report.
31
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024
|
|
|
31 Dec 2024 US$M |
30 June 2024 US$M |
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
9,560 |
12,501 |
|
Trade and other receivables |
|
4,308 |
5,169 |
|
Other financial assets |
|
533 |
381 |
|
Inventories |
|
5,533 |
5,828 |
|
Current tax assets |
|
728 |
314 |
|
Other |
|
193 |
145 |
|
Total current assets |
|
20,855 |
24,338 |
|
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
Trade and other receivables |
|
155 |
170 |
|
Other financial assets |
|
1,230 |
1,229 |
|
Inventories |
|
1,309 |
1,211 |
|
Property, plant and equipment |
|
73,112 |
71,629 |
|
Intangible assets |
|
1,761 |
1,718 |
|
Investments accounted for using the equity method |
|
1,686 |
1,662 |
|
Deferred tax assets |
|
61 |
67 |
|
Other |
|
553 |
338 |
|
Total non-current assets |
|
79,867 |
78,024 |
|
Total assets |
|
100,722 |
102,362 |
|
LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
|
6,032 |
6,719 |
|
Interest bearing liabilities |
|
491 |
2,084 |
|
Other financial liabilities |
|
325 |
512 |
|
Current tax payable |
|
1,048 |
884 |
|
Provisions |
|
4,351 |
4,007 |
|
Deferred income |
|
50 |
90 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
12,297 |
14,296 |
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
|
33 |
45 |
|
Interest bearing liabilities |
|
19,704 |
18,634 |
|
Other financial liabilities |
|
1,971 |
1,759 |
|
Non-current tax payable |
|
3 |
40 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities |
|
3,537 |
3,332 |
|
Provisions |
|
13,532 |
15,088 |
|
Deferred income |
|
48 |
48 |
|
Total non-current liabilities |
|
38,828 |
38,946 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
51,125 |
53,242 |
|
Net assets |
|
49,597 |
49,120 |
|
EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
Share capital |
|
4,964 |
4,899 |
|
Treasury shares |
|
(25) |
(36) |
|
Reserves |
|
(35) |
(15) |
|
Retained earnings |
|
40,612 |
39,963 |
|
Total equity attributable to BHP shareholders |
|
45,516 |
44,811 |
|
Non-controlling interests |
|
4,081 |
4,309 |
|
Total equity |
|
49,597 |
49,120 |
The accompanying notes form part of this half year Financial Report.
32
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
|
Notes |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Profit before taxation |
|
8,669 |
3,982 |
16,048 |
|
Adjustments for: |
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortisation expense |
|
2,648 |
2,629 |
5,295 |
|
Net (reversal of impairment)/impairment of property, plant and equipment, financial assets and intangibles |
|
(56) |
3,513 |
3,890 |
|
Net finance costs |
|
457 |
821 |
1,489 |
|
(Profit)/loss from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses |
(95) |
2,708 |
2,656 |
|
|
Other |
|
325 |
290 |
(243) |
|
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other receivables |
|
576 |
(763) |
(290) |
|
Inventories |
|
197 |
(255) |
(530) |
|
Trade and other payables |
|
(214) |
(33) |
(27) |
|
Provisions and other assets and liabilities |
|
(733) |
(519) |
(469) |
|
Cash generated from operations |
|
11,774 |
12,373 |
27,819 |
|
Dividends received |
|
233 |
199 |
397 |
|
Interest received |
|
265 |
352 |
724 |
|
Interest paid |
|
(779) |
(800) |
(1,680) |
|
Proceeds from cash management related instruments |
|
261 |
311 |
361 |
|
Net income tax and royalty-related taxation refunded |
|
95 |
175 |
547 |
|
Net income tax and royalty-related taxation paid |
|
(3,532) |
(3,726) |
(7,503) |
|
Net operating cash flows |
|
8,317 |
8,884 |
20,665 |
|
Investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |
|
(5,006) |
(4,545) |
(8,816) |
|
Exploration and evaluation expenditure |
|
(199) |
(199) |
(457) |
|
Exploration and evaluation expenditure expensed and included in operating cash flows |
174 |
170 |
399 |
|
|
Net investment and funding of equity accounted investments |
|
(679) |
(474) |
(701) |
|
Proceeds from sale of assets |
|
55 |
59 |
149 |
|
Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries, operations and joint operations, net of their cash |
285 |
55 |
1,072 |
|
|
Other investing |
|
(299) |
(145) |
(408) |
|
Net investing cash flows |
|
(5,669) |
(5,079) |
(8,762) |
|
Financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from interest bearing liabilities |
|
1,150 |
4,991 |
5,091 |
|
Settlements of debt related instruments |
|
(147) |
− |
(321) |
|
Repayment of interest bearing liabilities |
|
(1,311) |
(6,315) |
(7,327) |
|
Distributions to non-controlling interests |
|
− |
− |
(13) |
|
Dividends paid |
|
(3,865) |
(4,045) |
(7,675) |
|
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests |
|
(1,097) |
(614) |
(1,424) |
|
Net financing cash flows |
|
(5,270) |
(5,983) |
(11,669) |
|
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
(2,622) |
(2,178) |
234 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, net of overdrafts, at the beginning of the period |
|
12,498 |
12,423 |
12,423 |
|
Foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
|
(317) |
74 |
(159) |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, net of overdrafts, at the end of the period |
|
9,559 |
10,319 |
12,498 |
The accompanying notes form part of this half year Financial Report.
33
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
|
Attributable to BHP shareholders |
|
|
||||
|
US$M |
Share capital |
Treasury shares |
Reserves |
Retained earnings |
Total equity attributable to BHP shareholders |
Non- controlling interests |
Total equity |
|
Balance as at 1 July 2024 |
4,899 |
(36) |
(15) |
39,963 |
44,811 |
4,309 |
49,120 |
|
Total comprehensive income |
− |
− |
(22) |
4,411 |
4,389 |
869 |
5,258 |
|
Transactions with owners: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued1 |
65 |
(65) |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Employee share awards exercised net of employee contributions net of tax |
− |
76 |
(63) |
(13) |
− |
− |
− |
|
Accrued employee entitlement for unexercised awards net of tax |
− |
− |
65 |
− |
65 |
− |
65 |
|
Dividends |
− |
− |
− |
(3,749) |
(3,749) |
(1,097) |
(4,846) |
|
Balance as at 31 December 2024 |
4,964 |
(25) |
(35) |
40,612 |
45,516 |
4,081 |
49,597 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as at 1 July 2023 |
4,737 |
(41) |
13 |
39,787 |
44,496 |
4,034 |
48,530 |
|
Total comprehensive income |
− |
− |
(32) |
929 |
897 |
779 |
1,676 |
|
Transactions with owners: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued1 |
82 |
(82) |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Employee share awards exercised net of employee contributions net of tax |
− |
90 |
(71) |
(19) |
− |
− |
− |
|
Accrued employee entitlement for unexercised awards net of tax |
− |
− |
64 |
− |
64 |
− |
64 |
|
Dividends |
− |
− |
− |
(4,065) |
(4,065) |
(614) |
(4,679) |
|
Balance as at 31 December 2023 |
4,819 |
(33) |
(26) |
36,632 |
41,392 |
4,199 |
45,591 |
1 During the period, BHP Group Limited issued 2,370,371 fully paid ordinary shares to the BHP Group Limited Employee Equity Trust and to Solium Nominees (Australia) Pty Ltd at A$40.84 per share (31 December 2023: 2,919,231 fully paid ordinary shares at A$43.52 per share), to satisfy the vesting of employee share awards and related dividend equivalent entitlements under those employee share plans.
The accompanying notes form part of this half year Financial Report.
34
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. Basis of preparation
This general purpose Financial Report for the half year ended 31 December 2024 is unaudited and has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and AASB 134 'Interim Financial Reporting' as issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and the Australian Corporations Act 2001 as applicable to interim financial reporting. The general purpose Financial Report for the half year ended 31 December 2024 does not include all of the notes of the type normally included in an annual report. Accordingly, this report should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2024 and any public announcements made by the Group in accordance with the continuous disclosure obligations of the ASX Listing Rules.
Segment Reporting disclosures from IAS 34/AASB 134 'Interim Financial Reporting' have been disclosed within the Financial performance summary on pages 20 and 21 outside of this Financial Report.
The half year Financial Statements have been prepared on a basis of accounting policies and methods of computation consistent with those applied in the 30 June 2024 annual consolidated Financial Statements contained within the Annual Report of the Group, with the exception of new accounting standards that became effective for the Group from 1 July 2024. The adoption of these new accounting standards has not had a significant impact on the Group. A number of accounting standards and interpretations have been issued and will be applicable in future periods. These standards have not been applied in the preparation of these half year Financial Statements.
All amounts are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise stated. The Group's presentation currency and the functional currency of the majority of its operations is US dollars as this is the principal currency of the economic environment in which it operates. Amounts in this Financial Report have, unless otherwise indicated, been rounded to the nearest million dollars.
The Directors have assessed the Group's ability to continue as a going concern for the 12 months from the date of this report and consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the half year Financial Statements.
2. Exceptional items
Exceptional items are those gains or losses where their nature, including the expected frequency of the events giving rise to them, and impact is considered material to the Financial Statements. Such items included within the Group's profit for the half year are detailed below.
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 |
Gross US$M |
Tax US$M |
Net US$M |
|
Exceptional items by category |
|
|
|
|
Samarco dam failure |
(442) |
− |
(442) |
|
Western Australia Nickel (WAN) temporary suspension |
(320) |
96 |
(224) |
|
Total |
(762) |
96 |
(666) |
|
Attributable to non-controlling interests |
− |
− |
− |
|
Attributable to BHP shareholders |
(762) |
96 |
(666) |
Samarco Mineração SA (Samarco) dam failure
The loss of US$442 million (after tax) relates to the Samarco dam failure, which occurred in November 2015, and comprises the following:
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 |
|
US$M |
|
Expenses excluding net finance costs: |
|
|
|
Costs incurred directly by BHP Brasil and other BHP entities in relation to the Samarco dam failure |
(114) |
|
|
Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses: |
|
|
|
Samarco dam failure provision |
|
194 |
|
Fair value change on forward exchange derivatives |
|
(314) |
|
Net finance costs |
|
(208) |
|
Income tax expense |
|
− |
|
Total1 |
|
(442) |
1 Refer to note 9 'Significant events - Samarco dam failure' for further information.
35
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Western Australia Nickel (WAN) temporary suspension
The Nickel West operations and the West Musgrave project at Western Australia Nickel were transitioned into temporary suspension during the period in line with the announcement on 11 July 2024.
The Group recognised costs of US$224 million (after tax) associated with the transition of operations to temporary suspension. Pre-tax costs of US$320 million included US$410 million related to employee redundancies, contract termination costs and inventory adjustments, offset by US$90 million impairment reversals of certain non-current assets from Nickel West operations to be redeployed to other operations within the Group.
The exceptional items relating to the half year ended 31 December 2023 and the year ended 30 June 2024 are detailed below.
|
Half year ended 31 December 2023 |
Gross US$M |
Tax US$M |
Net US$M |
|
Exceptional items by category |
|
|
|
|
Samarco dam failure |
(3,120) |
(53) |
(3,173) |
|
Impairment of Western Australia Nickel assets |
(3,500) |
1,031 |
(2,469) |
|
Total |
(6,620) |
978 |
(5,642) |
|
Attributable to non-controlling interests |
− |
− |
− |
|
Attributable to BHP shareholders |
(6,620) |
978 |
(5,642) |
|
Year ended 30 June 2024 |
Gross US$M |
Tax US$M |
Net US$M |
|
Exceptional items by category |
|
|
|
|
Samarco dam failure |
(3,677) |
(85) |
(3,762) |
|
Impairment of Western Australia Nickel assets |
(3,800) |
1,125 |
(2,675) |
|
Blackwater and Daunia gain on divestment |
877 |
(203) |
674 |
|
Total |
(6,600) |
837 |
(5,763) |
|
Attributable to non-controlling interests |
− |
− |
− |
|
Attributable to BHP shareholders |
(6,600) |
837 |
(5,763) |
36
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
3. Interests in associates and joint venture entities
The Group's major shareholdings in associates and joint venture entities, including their profit/(loss), are listed below:
|
|
Ownership interest at the Group's reporting date |
Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses |
||||
|
|
31 Dec 2024 % |
31 Dec 2023 % |
30 June 2024 % |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Share of profit/(loss) of equity accounted investments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compañia Minera Antamina SA |
33.75 |
33.75 |
33.75 |
264 |
224 |
465 |
|
Samarco Mineração SA1 |
50.00 |
50.00 |
50.00 |
− |
− |
− |
|
Other |
|
|
|
(49) |
(56) |
(89) |
|
Share of profit of equity accounted investments |
215 |
168 |
376 |
|||
|
Samarco dam failure provision1 |
|
|
|
194 |
(2,982) |
(2,833) |
|
Fair value change on forward exchange derivatives1 |
(314) |
106 |
(199) |
|||
|
Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses |
95 |
(2,708) |
(2,656) |
|||
1 Refer to note 9 'Significant events - Samarco dam failure' for further information.
4. Net finance costs
|
|
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Financial expenses |
|
|
|
|
Interest expense using the effective interest rate method: |
|
|
|
|
Interest on bank loans, overdrafts and all other borrowings |
667 |
764 |
1,467 |
|
Interest capitalised at 6.31% (31 December 2023: 6.79%; 30 June 2024: 6.82%)1 |
(287) |
(217) |
(530) |
|
Interest on lease liabilities |
86 |
81 |
181 |
|
Discounting on provisions and other liabilities |
457 |
479 |
1,064 |
|
Other gains and losses: |
|
|
|
|
Fair value change on hedged loans |
(90) |
345 |
(214) |
|
Fair value change on hedging derivatives |
17 |
(323) |
188 |
|
Exchange variations on net debt |
(71) |
35 |
27 |
|
Other |
− |
− |
15 |
|
Total financial expenses |
779 |
1,164 |
2,198 |
|
Financial income |
|
|
|
|
Interest income |
(322) |
(343) |
(709) |
|
Net finance costs |
457 |
821 |
1,489 |
1 Interest has been capitalised at the rate of interest applicable to the specific borrowings financing the assets under construction or, where financed through general borrowings, at a capitalisation rate representing the average interest rate on such borrowings.
37
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
5. Income tax expense
|
|
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Total taxation expense comprises: |
|
|
|
|
Current tax expense |
3,155 |
3,271 |
7,435 |
|
Deferred tax expense/(benefit) |
229 |
(995) |
(988) |
|
Total taxation expense |
3,384 |
2,276 |
6,447 |
|
|
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Factors affecting income tax expense for the year |
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense differs to the standard rate of corporation tax as follows: |
|
|
|
|
Profit before taxation |
8,669 |
3,982 |
16,048 |
|
Tax on profit at Australian prima facie tax rate of 30 per cent |
2,601 |
1,195 |
4,814 |
|
Derecognition of deferred tax assets and current year tax losses |
578 |
237 |
666 |
|
Tax on remitted and unremitted foreign earnings |
154 |
96 |
224 |
|
Foreign exchange adjustments |
48 |
(29) |
(79) |
|
Amounts under/(over) provided in prior years |
45 |
(8) |
(25) |
|
Recognition of previously unrecognised tax assets |
(96) |
(73) |
(110) |
|
Tax effect of profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses1 |
(123) |
844 |
737 |
|
Impact of tax rates applicable outside of Australia |
(505) |
(244) |
(556) |
|
Other |
202 |
197 |
344 |
|
Income tax expense |
2,904 |
2,215 |
6,015 |
|
Royalty-related taxation (net of income tax benefit) |
480 |
61 |
432 |
|
Total taxation expense |
3,384 |
2,276 |
6,447 |
1 This item removes the prima facie tax effect on profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses that are net of tax, with the exception of the Samarco forward exchange derivatives described in note 9 'Significant events - Samarco dam failure', which are taxable.
International Tax Reform - Pillar Two Model Rules
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting previously published the Pillar Two model rules designed to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the global economy, including the implementation of a global minimum tax. The Group has a presence in jurisdictions that have enacted or substantively enacted legislation in relation to the OECD/G20 BEPS Pillar Two model rules, including Australia, where its ultimate parent entity is tax resident. This effectively brings all jurisdictions in which the Group has a presence into the scope of the rules.
The Group's current tax expense related to Pillar Two income taxes is US$1 million for the period ended 31 December 2024. The temporary exception to recognising and disclosing information about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to Pillar Two income taxes has been applied at 31 December 2024.
The Group continues to monitor and evaluate the domestic implementation of the Pillar Two rules in the jurisdictions in which it operates. The implementation of legislation that is enacted or substantively enacted but not yet in effect is not expected to have a material impact on the Group's global effective tax rate.
38
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
6. Earnings per share
|
|
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Earnings attributable to BHP shareholders (US$M)1 |
4,416 |
927 |
7,897 |
|
Weighted average number of shares (Million) |
|
|
|
|
- Basic2 |
5,072 |
5,067 |
5,068 |
|
- Diluted3 |
5,083 |
5,078 |
5,077 |
|
Earnings per ordinary share (US cents)4 |
|
|
|
|
- Basic |
87.1 |
18.3 |
155.8 |
|
- Diluted |
86.9 |
18.3 |
155.5 |
|
Headline earnings per ordinary share (US cents)5 |
|
|
|
|
- Basic |
86.3 |
67.0 |
195.9 |
|
- Diluted |
86.1 |
66.9 |
195.6 |
1 Diluted earnings attributable to BHP shareholders are equal to earnings attributable to BHP shareholders.
2 The calculation of the number of ordinary shares used in the computation of basic earnings per share is the weighted average number of ordinary shares of BHP Group Limited outstanding during the period after deduction of the number of shares held by the BHP Group Limited Employee Equity Trust.
3 For the purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share, the effect of 11 million dilutive shares has been taken into account for the half year ended 31 December 2024 (31 December 2023: 11 million shares; 30 June 2024: 9 million shares). The Group's only potential dilutive ordinary shares are share awards granted under employee share ownership plans. Diluted earnings per share calculation excludes instruments which are considered antidilutive.
At 31 December 2024, there are no instruments which are considered antidilutive (31 December 2023: nil; 30 June 2024: nil).
4 Each American Depositary Share (ADS) represents twice the earnings for BHP Group Limited ordinary share.
5 Headline earnings is a Johannesburg Stock Exchange defined performance measure and is reconciled from earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders as follows:
|
|
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Earnings attributable to BHP shareholders |
4,416 |
927 |
7,897 |
|
Adjusted for: |
|
|
|
|
(Gain)/loss on sales of property, plant and equipment, intangibles and investmentsi |
(5) |
(37) |
(29) |
|
Net (reversal of impairment)/impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangibles |
(56) |
3,530 |
3,905 |
|
Loss/(gain) on disposal of subsidiaries and operations |
2 |
− |
(915) |
|
Tax effect of above adjustments |
18 |
(1,023) |
(928) |
|
Subtotal of adjustments |
(41) |
2,470 |
2,033 |
|
Headline earnings |
4,375 |
3,397 |
9,930 |
|
Diluted headline earnings |
4,375 |
3,397 |
9,930 |
i Included in other income.
39
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
7. Dividends
|
|
|
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 |
Year ended 30 June 2024 |
|||
|
|
|
Per share US cents |
Total US$M |
Per share US cents |
Total US$M |
Per share US cents |
Total US$M |
|
Dividends paid during the period |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prior year final dividend |
|
74.0 |
3,749 |
80.0 |
4,065 |
80.0 |
4,065 |
|
Interim dividend |
|
N/A |
− |
N/A |
− |
72.0 |
3,647 |
|
|
|
74.0 |
3,749 |
80.0 |
4,065 |
152.0 |
7,712 |
Dividends paid during the period differs from the amount of dividends paid in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement as a result of foreign exchange gains and losses relating to the timing of equity distributions between the record date and the payment date. Proceeds of US$107 million were received on derivative instruments as part of the funding of the final dividend paid during the period and disclosed in 'Proceeds from cash management related instruments' in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement.
Each American Depositary Share (ADS) represents two ordinary shares of BHP Group Limited. Dividends determined on each ADS represent twice the dividend determined on each BHP Group Limited ordinary share.
Dividends are determined after period-end and announced with the results for the period. Interim dividends are determined in February and paid in March. Final dividends are determined in August and paid in September or October. Dividends determined are not recorded as a liability at the end of the period to which they relate. Subsequent to the half year, on 18 February 2025, BHP Group Limited determined an interim ordinary dividend of 50 US cents per share (US$2,537 million), with a payment date of 27 March 2025 (31 December 2023: interim dividend of 72 US cents per share - US$3,649 million; 30 June 2024: final dividend of 74 US cents per share - US$3,752 million).
BHP Group Limited dividends for all periods presented are, or will be, fully franked based on a tax rate of 30 per cent.
40
8. Financial risk management - Fair values
Recognition and measurement
All financial assets and liabilities, other than derivatives and trade receivables, are initially recognised at the fair value of consideration paid or received, net of transaction costs as appropriate. Financial assets are initially recognised on their trade date.
Financial assets are subsequently carried at fair value or amortised cost based on:
· the Group's purpose, or business model, for holding the financial asset;
· whether the financial asset's contractual terms give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest.
The resulting Financial Statements classifications of financial assets can be summarised as follows:
|
Contractual cash flows |
Business model |
Category |
|
Solely principal and interest |
Hold in order to collect contractual cash flows |
Amortised cost |
|
Solely principal and interest |
Hold in order to collect contractual cash flows and sell |
Fair value through other comprehensive income |
|
Solely principal and interest |
Hold in order to sell |
Fair value through profit or loss |
|
Other |
Any of those mentioned above |
Fair value through profit or loss |
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Solely principal and interest refers to the Group receiving returns only for the time value of money and the credit risk of the counterparty for financial assets held. The main exceptions for the Group are provisionally priced receivables and derivatives which are measured at fair value through profit or loss under IFRS 9/AASB 9 'Financial Instruments'.
The Group has the intention of collecting payment directly from its customers in most cases, however the Group also participates in receivables financing programs in respect of selected customers. Receivables in these portfolios which are classified as 'hold in order to sell', are provisionally priced receivables and are therefore held at fair value through profit or loss prior to sale to the financial institution.
With the exception of derivative contracts and provisionally priced trade payables which are carried at fair value through profit or loss, the Group's financial liabilities are classified as subsequently measured at amortised cost.
The Group may in addition elect to designate certain financial assets or liabilities at fair value through profit or loss or to apply hedge accounting where they are not mandatorily held at fair value through profit or loss.
Fair value measurement
The carrying amount of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value is principally calculated based on inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for these financial assets or liabilities, either directly (i.e. as unquoted prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices). Where no price information is available from a quoted market source, alternative market mechanisms or recent comparable transactions, fair value is estimated based on the Group's views on relevant future prices, net of valuation allowances to accommodate liquidity, modelling and other risks implicit in such estimates.
The inputs used in fair value calculations are determined by the relevant segment or function. The functions support the assets and operate under a defined set of accountabilities authorised by the Executive Leadership Team. Movements in the fair value of financial assets and liabilities may be recognised through the income statement or in other comprehensive income according to the designation of the underlying instrument.
For financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value, the Group uses the following to categorise the inputs to the valuation method used based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole:
|
IFRS 13 Fair value hierarchy |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
|
Valuation inputs |
Based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical financial assets and liabilities. |
Based on inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the financial asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as unquoted prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices). |
Based on inputs not observable in the market using appropriate valuation models, including discounted cash flow modelling. |
41
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Financial assets and liabilities
The financial assets and liabilities are presented by class in the table below at their carrying amounts.
|
|
IFRS 13 Fair value hierarchy Level1 |
IFRS 9 Classification |
31 Dec 2024 US$M |
30 June 2024 US$M |
||
|
Current cross currency and interest rate swaps2 |
2 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
− |
5 |
||
|
Current other derivative contracts3 |
2,3 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
235 |
118 |
||
|
Current other financial assets4 |
3 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
28 |
− |
||
|
Current other financial assets5 |
|
Amortised cost |
246 |
234 |
||
|
Current other investments6 |
1,2 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
24 |
24 |
||
|
Non-current cross currency and interest rate swaps2 |
2 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
122 |
113 |
||
|
Non-current other derivative contracts3 |
2,3 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
65 |
103 |
||
|
Non-current other financial assets4 |
3 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
168 |
195 |
||
|
Non-current other financial assets5,7 |
|
Amortised cost |
416 |
398 |
||
|
Non-current investment in shares |
1,3 |
Fair value through other comprehensive income |
267 |
201 |
||
|
Non-current other investments6 |
1,2 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
192 |
219 |
||
|
Total other financial assets |
|
|
1,763 |
1,610 |
||
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
Amortised cost |
9,560 |
12,501 |
||
|
Trade and other receivables8 |
|
Amortised cost |
1,194 |
1,597 |
||
|
Provisionally priced trade receivables |
2 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
2,748 |
3,250 |
||
|
Total financial assets |
|
|
15,265 |
18,958 |
||
|
Non-financial assets |
|
|
|
|
85,457 |
83,404 |
|
Total assets |
|
|
|
|
100,722 |
102,362 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current cross currency and interest rate swaps2 |
2 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
− |
176 |
||
|
Current other derivative contracts |
2 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
249 |
241 |
||
|
Current other financial liabilities9 |
|
Amortised cost |
76 |
95 |
||
|
Non-current cross currency and interest rate swaps2 |
2 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
1,516 |
1,337 |
||
|
Non-current other derivative contracts |
2,3 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
144 |
54 |
||
|
Non-current other financial liabilities9 |
|
Amortised cost |
311 |
368 |
||
|
Total other financial liabilities |
|
|
|
|
2,296 |
2,271 |
|
Trade and other payables10 |
|
Amortised cost |
5,284 |
6,049 |
||
|
Provisionally priced trade payables |
2 |
Fair value through profit or loss |
711 |
614 |
||
|
Bank overdrafts and short-term borrowings11 |
|
Amortised cost |
1 |
3 |
||
|
Bank loans11 |
|
Amortised cost |
3,737 |
2,610 |
||
|
Notes and debentures11 |
|
Amortised cost |
13,918 |
14,932 |
||
|
Lease liabilities12 |
|
|
2,491 |
3,116 |
||
|
Other11 |
|
Amortised cost |
48 |
57 |
||
|
Total financial liabilities |
|
|
28,486 |
29,652 |
||
|
Non-financial liabilities |
|
|
|
|
22,639 |
23,590 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
|
|
51,125 |
53,242 |
1 All of the Group's financial assets and financial liabilities recognised at fair value were valued using market observable inputs categorised as Level 2 unless specified otherwise in the following footnotes.
2 Cross currency and interest rate swaps are valued using market data including interest rate curves and foreign exchange rates. A discounted cash flow approach is used to derive the fair value of cross currency and interest rate swaps at the reporting date.
3 Includes net other derivative assets of US$72 million related to power purchase contract agreements that are categorised as Level 3 (30 June 2024: US$92 million).
4 Includes receivables contingent on future realised coal price of US$196 million (30 June 2024: US$195 million).
5 Includes deferred consideration of US$520 million in relation to the divestment of the Blackwater and Daunia mines completed on 2 April 2024 (30 June 2024: US$495 million).
6 Includes investments held by BHP Foundation which are restricted and not available for general use by the Group of US$216 million (30 June 2024: US$243 million) of which other investments (mainly US Treasury Notes) of US$129 million is categorised as Level 1 (30 June 2024: US$134 million).
7 Includes Senior notes of US$142 million (30 June 2024: US$137 million) relating to Samarco with a maturity date of 30 June 2031. Refer to note 9 'Significant events - Samarco dam failure' for further information.
8 Excludes input taxes of US$521 million (30 June 2024: US$492 million) included in other receivables.
9 Includes the discounted settlement liability in relation to the cancellation of power contracts at the Group's Escondida operations.
10 Excludes input taxes of US$70 million (30 June 2024: US$101 million) included in other payables.
11 All interest bearing liabilities, excluding lease liabilities, are unsecured.
12 Lease liabilities are measured in accordance with IFRS 16/AASB 16 'Leases'.
42
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
The carrying amounts in the table above generally approximate to fair value. In the case of US$525 million (30 June 2024: US$532 million) of fixed rate debt not swapped to floating rate, the fair value at 31 December 2024 was US$537 million (30 June 2024: US$538 million). The fair value is determined using a method that can be categorised as Level 2 and uses inputs based on benchmark interest rates, alternative market mechanisms or recent comparable transactions.
For financial instruments that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether transfers have occurred between levels in the fair value hierarchy by reassessing categorisation at the end of each reporting period. There were no transfers between categories during the period.
9. Significant events - Samarco dam failure
As a result of the Samarco dam failure on 5 November 2015, BHP Billiton Brasil Ltda (BHP Brasil) and other Group entities continue to incur costs and maintain liabilities for future costs. The information presented in this note should be read in conjunction with section 7 'Samarco', Financial Statements note 4 'Significant events - Samarco dam failure' and Additional Information section 8 'Legal proceedings' in the 30 June 2024 Annual Report.
The financial impacts of the Samarco dam failure on the Group's income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement for the half year ended 31 December 2024 are shown below and have been treated as an exceptional item.
|
Financial impacts of Samarco dam failure |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Income statement |
|
|
|
|
Expenses excluding net finance costs: |
|
|
|
|
Costs incurred directly by BHP Brasil and other BHP entities in relation to the Samarco dam failure1 |
(114) |
(54) |
(139) |
|
Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Samarco dam failure provision2 |
194 |
(2,982) |
(2,833) |
|
Fair value change on forward exchange derivatives3 |
(314) |
106 |
(199) |
|
Loss from operations |
(234) |
(2,930) |
(3,171) |
|
Net finance costs4 |
(208) |
(190) |
(506) |
|
Loss before taxation |
(442) |
(3,120) |
(3,677) |
|
Income tax expense5 |
− |
(53) |
(85) |
|
Loss after taxation |
(442) |
(3,173) |
(3,762) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance sheet movement |
|
|
|
|
Other financial (liabilities)/assets6 |
(272) |
94 |
(280) |
|
Trade and other payables |
(1) |
(12) |
(4) |
|
Tax liabilities |
− |
(53) |
(85) |
|
Provisions |
623 |
(2,851) |
(2,824) |
|
Net decrease/(increase) in liabilities |
350 |
(2,822) |
(3,193) |
43
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
|
|
Half year ended 31 Dec 2024 US$M |
Half year ended 31 Dec 2023 US$M |
Year ended 30 June 2024 US$M |
|||
|
Cash flow statement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before taxation |
|
|
(442) |
|
(3,120) |
|
(3,677) |
|
Adjustments for: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Samarco dam failure provision2 |
(194) |
|
2,982 |
|
2,833 |
|
|
|
Fair value change on forward exchange derivatives3 |
|
314 |
|
(106) |
|
199 |
|
|
(Settlement of)/proceeds from cash management related instruments |
(37) |
|
142 |
|
218 |
|
|
|
Net finance costs4 |
|
208 |
|
190 |
|
506 |
|
|
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
|
1 |
|
12 |
|
4 |
|
|
Net operating cash flows |
|
|
(150) |
|
100 |
|
83 |
|
Net investment and funding of equity accounted investments7 |
|
(637) |
|
(446) |
|
(640) |
|
|
Net investing cash flows |
|
|
(637) |
|
(446) |
|
(640) |
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
|
(787) |
|
(346) |
|
(557) |
|
1 Includes legal and advisor costs incurred.
2 US$440 million (31 December 2023: US$3,000 million; 30 June 2024: US$3,700 million) change in estimate and US$(634) million (31 December 2023: US$(18) million; 30 June 2024: US$(867) million) exchange translation.
3 The Group enters into forward exchange contracts to limit the Brazilian reais exposure on the dam failure provision. While not applying hedge accounting, the fair value changes in the forward exchange instruments are recorded within Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses in the Income Statement.
4 Amortisation of discounting of provision.
5 Includes tax on forward exchange derivatives and other taxes incurred during the period.
6 Includes forward exchange contracts described in 3 above, and Senior notes issued by Samarco as part of its Judicial Reorganisation in September 2023.
7 Current period reflects US$(637) million utilisation of the Samarco dam failure provision including the first settlement payment under the Settlement Agreement ratified on 6 November 2024. Comparative periods comprise utilisation of the Samarco dam failure provision (31 December 2023: US$(321) million; 30 June 2024: US$(515) million) and US$(125) million provided to Samarco following approval of the Judicial Reorganisation.
Equity accounted investment in Samarco
BHP Brasil's investment in Samarco remains at US$ nil. No dividends have been received by BHP Brasil from Samarco during the period and Samarco currently does not have profits available for distribution.
Provision related to the Samarco dam failure
|
|
|
|
|
|
31 Dec 2024 US$M |
|
30 June 2024 US$M |
|
At the beginning of the reporting period |
|
|
|
|
6,505 |
|
3,681 |
|
Movement in provision |
|
|
|
|
(623) |
|
2,824 |
|
Comprising: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utilised |
|
|
|
(637) |
|
(515) |
|
|
Adjustments charged to the income statement: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in cost estimate |
|
440 |
|
3,700 |
|
||
|
Amortisation of discounting impacting net finance costs |
|
208 |
|
506 |
|
||
|
Exchange translation |
|
(634) |
|
(867) |
|
||
|
At the end of the reporting period |
|
|
5,882 |
|
6,505 |
||
|
Comprising: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
|
|
2,013 |
|
1,500 |
|
Non-current |
|
|
|
|
3,869 |
|
5,005 |
|
At the end of the reporting period |
|
|
|
|
5,882 |
|
6,505 |
Samarco dam failure provision and contingencies
As at 31 December 2024, BHP Brasil has identified a provision and certain contingent liabilities arising as a consequence of the Samarco dam failure. The provision only reflects the future cost estimates associated with the obligations set out in the Settlement Agreement (see below).
Contingent liabilities will only be resolved when one or more uncertain future events occur or related impacts become capable of reliable measurement and, as such, determination of contingent liabilities disclosed in the financial statements requires significant judgement regarding the outcome of future events. A number of the claims below do not specify the amount of damages sought and, where this is specified, amounts could change as the matter progresses.
44
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Ultimately, future changes in all those matters for which a provision has been recognised or contingent liability disclosed could have a material adverse impact on BHP's business, competitive position, cash flows, prospects, liquidity and shareholder returns.
The following table summarises the current status of significant ongoing matters relating to the Samarco dam failure, along with developments during the financial year, and the associated treatment in the Financial Statements:
|
Item |
Provision |
Contingent liability |
|
Samarco dam failure - Settlement Agreement On 2 March 2016, BHP Brasil, Samarco and Vale S.A. (Vale) (the Companies) entered into a Framework Agreement with the Federal Government of Brazil, the states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais, and certain other public authorities to establish a foundation (Fundação Renova) to develop and execute environmental and socio-economic programs (Programs) to remediate and provide compensation for damage caused by the Samarco dam failure (the Framework Agreement). Key Programs included those for financial assistance and compensation of impacted persons and those for remediation of impacted areas and resettlement of impacted communities. On 3 May 2016, the Brazilian Federal Public Prosecution Office brought a civil claim against BHP Brasil and others seeking R$155 billion for reparation, compensation and moral damages in relation to the Samarco dam failure. Since the lodgement of the claim, the Federal Court had issued a number of interim decisions, certain of which were subject to ongoing appeal at 30 June 2024. On 25 October 2024, the Companies entered into an agreement with the Federal Government of Brazil, State of Minas Gerais, State of Espirito Santo, public prosecutors and public defenders (Public Authorities) that delivers full and final settlement of the Framework Agreement obligations, the Federal Public Prosecution Office civil claim and other claims by the Public Authorities relating to Samarco's Fundão dam failure (Settlement Agreement). On 6 November 2024 the Settlement Agreement was fully ratified by the Brazilian Supreme Court. A number of motions for clarification have been lodged with the Supreme Court and remain pending.
|
ü |
û |
|
Item |
Provision |
Contingent liability |
|
The Settlement Agreement provides compensation and reparation for the impacts of the dam failure, and builds on the existing remediation and compensation work already performed by Fundação Renova. The Settlement Agreement was announced as having a financial value of R$170 billion (approximately US$31.7 billion[13]) on a 100% basis, including amounts already spent plus future payments and obligations as follows: · R$38 billion (approximately US$7.9 billion1) in amounts already spent to 30 September 2024 on remediation and compensation since 2016. · R$100 billion (approximately US$18.0 billion1) in instalments over 20 years to the Public Authorities, the relevant municipalities and Indigenous peoples and traditional communities (Obligation to Pay). · Additional performance obligations for an estimated financial value of approximately R$32 billion (approximately US$5.8 billion1) that will be carried out by Samarco in accordance with the terms of the Agreement (Obligations to Perform). These obligations include remediation and compensation programs that are expected to be largely completed over the next 15 years. 45
Under the Settlement Agreement, Samarco is the primary obligor for the settlement obligations and BHP Brasil and Vale are each secondary obligors of any obligation that Samarco cannot fund or perform in proportion to their shareholding at the time of the dam failure, which is 50% each. While Samarco has recommenced operations, Samarco's long-term cash flow generation remains highly sensitive to factors including returning to full production capacity, commodity prices and foreign exchange rates. Further, under the Samarco Judicial Reorganisation Plan (JR Plan), ratified by the JR Court on 1 September 2023, Samarco's funding of obligations to remediate and compensate the damages resulting from the dam failure is capped at US$1 billion for the period CY2024 to CY2030. Notwithstanding this cap, and subject to certain conditions, to the extent that Samarco each year has a positive cash balance after meeting its various obligations, during this period Samarco's shareholders are able to direct 50 per cent of Samarco's year end excess cash balance to fund remediation obligations, including those arising from the Settlement Agreement. The Group has considered the outcomes of the Settlement Agreement, including the estimated costs of executing the Obligations to Perform, and the extent to which Samarco may be in a position to fund any future outflows to measure the provision related to the Samarco dam failure at US$5,882 million at 31 December 2024. The provision reflects the Group's best estimate of outflows required to settle all obligations arising from the Settlement Agreement. Uncertainty remains around the Obligations to Perform, and there is a risk that outcomes may be materially higher or lower than amounts reflected in BHP Brasil's provision for the Samarco dam failure. Key areas of uncertainty include the future costs relating to the Obligation to Perform programs and the extent to which Samarco is able to directly fund the settlement obligations. Further information on the key areas of estimation uncertainty is provided in the 'Key judgements and estimates' section below. BHP Brasil, Samarco and Vale continue to maintain security, as required by a Governance Agreement, ratified on 8 August 2018, with the security currently comprising insurance bonds and a charge over certain Samarco assets. The security is expected to be released during CY2025 considering that there is no requirement under the Settlement Agreement to maintain the existing security. |
|
|
|
Item |
Provision |
Contingent liability |
|
Australian class action claim BHP Group Limited is named as a defendant in a shareholder class action filed in the Federal Court of Australia on behalf of persons who acquired shares in BHP Group Limited or BHP Group Plc (now BHP Group (UK) Ltd) in periods prior to the Samarco dam failure. The amount of damages sought is unspecified. A trial is scheduled to commence in September 2025. |
û |
ü |
|
United Kingdom group action claim and Vale and Samarco's Netherlands collective action claim BHP Group (UK) Ltd (formerly BHP Group Plc) and BHP Group Limited (BHP Defendants) are named as defendants in group action claims for damages filed in the courts of England. These claims were filed on behalf of certain individuals, municipalities, businesses, faith-based institutions and communities in Brazil allegedly impacted by the Samarco dam failure. 46 The amount of damages sought in these claims is unspecified. A trial in relation to BHP's liability for the Samarco dam failure commenced in October 2024 and is expected to conclude in March 2025 and therefore a present obligation in relation to this matter is yet to be determined. In December 2022, the BHP Defendants filed their defence and a contribution claim against Vale. The contribution claim contended that if the BHP Defendants' defence is not successful and the BHP Defendants are ordered to pay damages to the claimants, Vale should contribute to any amount payable. Vale contested the jurisdiction of the English courts to determine the contribution claim, with those challenges ultimately dismissed in December 2023. In January 2024, the BHP Defendants were served with a new group action filed in the courts of England on behalf of additional individuals and businesses in Brazil allegedly impacted by the Samarco dam failure. The new action makes broadly the same claims as the original action and the amount of damages sought in these claims is unspecified. In March 2024, a collective action complaint was filed in the Netherlands against Vale and a Dutch subsidiary of Samarco for compensation relating to the Fundão Dam failure. The claim filed in the Netherlands indicates that these claims were filed on behalf of certain individuals, municipalities, businesses, associations and faith-based institutions allegedly impacted by the Samarco dam failure who are not also claimants in the UK group action claims referred to above. BHP is not a defendant in the Netherlands proceedings. In July 2024, the BHP Defendants, BHP Brasil and Vale entered into an agreement - without any admission of liability in any proceedings - whereby: (i) Vale will pay 50% of any amounts that may be payable by the BHP Defendants to the claimants in the UK group action claims (or by the BHP Defendants, BHP Brasil or their related parties to claimants in any other proceedings in Brazil, England or the Netherlands covered by the agreement); and (ii) BHP Brasil will pay 50% of any amounts that may be payable by Vale to the claimants in the Netherlands proceedings (or by Vale or its related parties to claimants in any other proceedings in Brazil, England or the Netherlands covered by the agreement). The agreement reinforced the terms of the Framework Agreement entered into in 2016 and is consistent with the aforementioned Settlement Agreement entered into in October 2024, which requires BHP Brasil and Vale to each contribute 50% to the funding of the settlement obligations where Samarco is unable to contribute that funding. The BHP Defendants withdrew the contribution claim against Vale in England as it is no longer necessary given this agreement. |
û |
ü |
|
Item |
Provision |
Contingent liability |
|
Criminal charges The Federal Prosecutors' Office filed criminal charges against BHP Brasil, Samarco and Vale and certain employees and former employees of BHP Brasil (Affected Individuals) in the Federal Court of Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais (Federal Court). On 14 November 2024, the Federal Court ruled that BHP Brasil, Samarco and Vale and certain Affected Individuals (non-affiliated with BHP) who still had their cases open, are not liable for criminal offences relating to the failure of Samarco's Fundão tailings dam. In December 2024 the Federal Prosecutors' Office filed an appeal, and a ruling is pending. As to the Affected Individuals affiliated to BHP, four had their cases closed, while the remaining four had favourable decisions dismissing the charges against them. A ruling on Federal Prosecutors' Office appeal is pending. 47 |
û |
ü |
|
Civil public action commenced by Associations concerning the use of TANFLOC for Following the dismissal, on 17 November 2023, of an initial lawsuit filed by four associations due to procedural reasons (an appeal is pending), in July 2024 two further associations filed another lawsuit against Samarco, BHP Brasil and Vale and others, including the States of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo; the Federal Government and the Water Treatment Companies, who were all also defendants in the first lawsuit. The second lawsuit was also dismissed due to procedural reasons on 12 November 2024 and the associations have appealed against this judgement with BHP Brasil having until 28 February 2025 to respond to the appeal. In the lawsuits the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants carried out a clandestine study on the citizens of the locations affected by the Fundão Dam Failure where Tanfloc - a tannin-based flocculant/coagulant - was used in the water treatment process. The plaintiffs claim that this product allegedly put the population at risk due to its alleged experimental qualities and dosage applied. The plaintiffs presented largely similar pleas - e.g. material damages, moral damages - with the first lawsuit including a request for loss of profits and that the defendants should pay for water supply in all locations where there is no water source other than the Doce River. |
û |
ü |
|
Item |
Provision |
Contingent liability |
|
Other claims BHP Brasil is among the companies named as defendants in a number of legal proceedings initiated by individuals, non-governmental organisations, corporations and governmental entities in Brazilian Federal and State courts following the Samarco dam failure. The other defendants include Vale, Samarco and Fundação Renova. The lawsuits include claims for compensation, environmental reparation and violations of Brazilian environmental and other laws, among other matters. The lawsuits seek various remedies including reparation costs, compensation to injured individuals and families of the deceased, recovery of personal and property losses, moral damages and injunctive relief. Certain of these legal proceedings are outside the scope of the Settlement Agreement. In addition, government inquiries, studies and investigations relating to the Samarco dam failure have been commenced by numerous agencies and individuals of the Brazilian government and may still be ongoing. Additional lawsuits and government investigations relating to the Samarco dam failure could be brought against BHP Brasil and other Group entities in Brazil or other jurisdictions. The outcomes of these claims, investigations and proceedings remain uncertain and continue to be disclosed as contingent liabilities. |
û |
ü |
48
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Commitments
Under the terms of the Samarco joint venture agreement, BHP Brasil does not have an existing obligation to fund Samarco.
However, under the Settlement Agreement, while Samarco is the primary obligor for the Settlement Agreement obligations, BHP Brasil and Vale are each secondary obligors of any obligation that Samarco cannot fund (including as restricted by the terms of the Judicial Reorganisation) or perform in proportion to their shareholding at the time of the dam failure, which is 50% each.
BHP Brasil has approved preliminary funding of up to US$1 billion to Samarco for the Settlement Agreement obligations during calendar year 2025.
Key judgements and estimatesJudgements The outcomes of litigation are inherently difficult to predict and significant judgement has been applied in assessing the likely outcome of legal claims and determining which legal claims require recognition of a provision or disclosure of a contingent liability. The facts and circumstances relating to these cases are regularly evaluated in determining whether a provision for any specific claim is required. Management has determined that a provision can be recognised at 31 December 2024 to reflect the estimated costs associated with obligations under the Settlement Agreement. It is not yet possible to provide a range of possible outcomes or a reliable estimate of potential future exposures to BHP in connection to the contingent liabilities noted above, given their status. Estimates The provision for the Samarco dam failure reflects the Group's estimate of the costs to meet the Group's obligations under the Settlement Agreement and requires the use of significant judgements, estimates and assumptions. While the provision has been measured based on the latest information available, changes in facts and circumstances are likely in future reporting periods and may lead to material revisions to these estimates and there is a risk that outcomes may be materially higher or lower than amounts currently reflected in the provision. However, it is currently not possible to determine what facts and circumstances may change, therefore revisions in future reporting periods due to the key estimates and factors outlined below cannot be reliably measured. The key estimates that may have a material impact upon the provision in the next and future reporting periods include: · the cost of executing the Obligations to Perform Programs under the Settlement Agreement, including as a result of the number of individuals, small businesses, Municipalities and Indigenous and Traditional communities who opt-in to the Settlement Agreement and the extent to which individuals opting-in are eligible for indemnification under the Settlement agreement; and · the extent to which Samarco is able to directly fund any future obligations relating to the Settlement Agreement. Samarco's long-term cash flow generation remains highly sensitive to factors including its ability to return to full production capacity, commodity prices and foreign exchange rates. The provision may also be affected by factors including but not limited to updates to discount and foreign exchange rates. To limit the Group's exposure to potential Brazilian reais foreign exchange volatility, the Group has entered into forward exchange contracts, predominantly covering the period up to FY2028. A 0.5% increase in the discount rate would, in isolation, reduce the provision by approximately US$100 million. In addition, the provision may be impacted by decisions in, or resolution of, existing and potential legal claims in Brazil and other jurisdictions, including the outcome of the United Kingdom group action claims, the Australian class action and the claim filed in the Netherlands against Vale and a Dutch subsidiary of Samarco. Given these factors, future actual cash outflows may differ from the amounts currently provided and changes to any of the key assumptions and estimates outlined above could result in a material impact to the provision in the next and future reporting periods. |
49
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
10. Subsequent events
On the 15 January 2025, the Group announced that BHP Investments Canada Inc. (BHP Canada) and Lundin Mining Corporation (Lundin Mining) had completed the acquisition of Filo Corp., a Toronto Stock Exchange listed company. Filo Corp. owns 100% of the Filo del Sol (FDS) copper project.
BHP Canada and Lundin Mining have also formed the Canadian-incorporated joint venture company, Vicuña Corp. (the Joint Venture) to hold the FDS copper project and the Josemaria copper project located in the Vicuña district of Argentina and Chile. BHP Canada and Lundin Mining each own 50% of the Joint Venture.
Prior to completion, Lundin Mining owned 100% of the Josemaria project. At completion, BHP Canada acquired a 50% interest in the Josemaria copper project from Lundin Mining. BHP Canada and Lundin Mining then contributed their respective 50% interests in Filo Corp. and the Josemaria project into the Joint Venture.
BHP's total cash payment for the Transaction was US$2.0 billion.
Other than the matters outlined elsewhere in this Financial Report, no matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the half year that have significantly affected, or may significantly affect, the operations, results of operations or state of affairs of the Group in subsequent accounting periods.
50
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Directors' Report
The Directors present their report together with the half year Financial Statements for the half year ended 31 December 2024 and the auditor's review report thereon.
Review of Operations
A detailed review of the Group's operated and non-operated assets, the results of those operations during the half year ended 31 December 2024 and likely future developments are given on pages 1 to 28. The Review of Operations has been incorporated into, and forms part of, this Directors' Report.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The principal risks affecting the Group are described on pages 73 to 82 of the Group's Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2024 (a copy of which is available on the Group's website at www.bhp.com) and are grouped into the categories of risks listed below. Our principal risks may occur as a result of our activities globally, including in connection with our operated and non-operated assets, third parties engaged by BHP or through our value chain. Our principal risks, individually or collectively, could threaten our viability, strategy, business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity and reputation. They could also materially and adversely affect the health and safety of our people or members of the public, the environment, the communities where we or our third-party partners operate, or the interests of our stakeholders, which could in each case, lead to litigation, regulatory investigation or enforcement action (including class actions or actions arising from contractual, legacy or other liabilities associated with divested assets), or a loss of stakeholder and/or investor confidence. There are no material changes in those risk factors for the first six months of this financial year except to the extent described in the 'Outlook' section.
· Operational events: Risks associated with operational events in connection with our activities globally, resulting in significant adverse impacts on our people, communities, the environment or our business.
· Significant social or environmental impacts: Risks associated with significant impacts of our operations on and contributions to communities and environments throughout the life cycle of our assets and across our value chain.
· Optimising growth and portfolio returns: Risks associated with our ability to position our asset portfolio to generate returns and value for shareholders, including through acquisitions, mergers and divestments.
· Low-carbon transition: Risks associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy.
· Accessing key markets: Risks associated with market concentration and our ability to sell and deliver products into existing and future key markets, impacting our economic efficiency.
· Adopting technologies and maintaining digital security: Risks associated with adopting and implementing new technologies, and maintaining the effectiveness of our existing digital landscape (including cyber defences) across our value chain.
· Ethical misconduct: Risks associated with actual or alleged deviation from societal or business expectations of ethical behaviour (including breaches of laws or regulations) and wider or cumulative organisational cultural failings, resulting in significant reputational impacts.
· Inadequate business resilience: Risks associated with unanticipated or unforeseeable adverse events and a failure of planning and preparedness to respond to, manage and recover from adverse events (including potential physical climate-related impacts).
Dividend
Full details of dividends are given on page 4.
51
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Board of Directors
The Directors of BHP at any time during or since the end of the half year ended 31 December 2024 are:
Ken MacKenzie - Chairman since 1 September 2017 (a Director since 22 September 2016)
Mike Henry - an Executive Director since 1 January 2020
Xiaoqun Clever-Steg - a Director since 1 October 2020
Gary Goldberg - a Director since 1 February 2020
Michelle Hinchliffe - a Director since 1 March 2022
Don Lindsay - a Director since May 2024
Ross McEwan - a Director since April 2024
Christine O'Reilly - a Director since 12 October 2020
Catherine Tanna - a Director since 4 April 2022
Dion Weisler - a Director since 1 June 2020
Auditor's independence declaration
Ernst & Young in Australia are the auditors of BHP Group Limited. Their auditor's independence declaration under Section 307C of the Australian Corporations Act 2001 is set out on page 54 and forms part of this Directors' Report.
Rounding of amounts
BHP Group Limited is an entity to which Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Corporations (Rounding in Financial/Directors' Reports) Instrument 2016/191 applies. Amounts in the Directors' Report and half year Financial Statements have been rounded to the nearest million dollars in accordance with ASIC Instrument 2016/191.
Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.
Ken MacKenzie - Chair
Mike Henry - Chief Executive Officer
Dated this 18th day of February 2025
52
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Directors' Declaration of Responsibility
The half year Financial Report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. In accordance with a resolution of the Directors of BHP Group Limited, the Directors declare that:
(a) in the Directors' opinion and to the best of their knowledge, the half year Financial Statements and notes, set out on pages 29 to 50, have been prepared in accordance with the Australian Corporations Act 2001, including:
(i) complying with applicable accounting standards and the Australian Corporations Regulations 2001; and
(ii) giving a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Group as at 31 December 2024 and of its performance for the half year ended on that date;
(b) for the purposes of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules in the United Kingdom, to the best of the Directors' knowledge, the Directors' Report, which incorporates the Review of Operations on pages 1 to 28, includes: a fair review of (i) the important events during the first six months of the current financial year and their impact on the half year Financial Statements; (ii) a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year; and (iii) related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the Group during that period, and changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could have such a material effect; and
(c) in the Directors' opinion, there are reasonable grounds to believe that BHP Group Limited will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.
Signed on behalf of the Directors in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.
Ken MacKenzie - Chair
Mike Henry - Chief Executive Officer
Dated this 18th day of February 2025
53
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Auditor's Independence Declaration to the Directors of BHP Group Limited
As lead auditor for the review of the financial report of BHP Group Limited for the half year ended 31 December 2024, I declare to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:
a. No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the review;
b. No contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the review; and
c. No non-audit services provided that contravene any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the review.
This declaration is in respect of BHP Group Limited and the entities it controlled during the financial period.
Ernst & Young
Rodney Piltz
Partner
Melbourne
18 February 2025
54
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Independent Review Report
Independent auditor's review report to the members of BHP Group Limited
Conclusion
We have reviewed the accompanying half year financial report of BHP Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively the Group), which comprises the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 December 2024, the consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated cash flow statement for the half year ended on that date, notes comprising material accounting policy information and other explanatory information, and the directors' declaration.
Based on our review, which is not an audit, we have not become aware of any matter that makes us believe that the half year financial report of the Group does not comply with the Corporations Act 2001, including:
a. Giving a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of the Group as at 31 December 2024 and of its consolidated financial performance for the half year ended on that date; and
b. Complying with International Accounting Standard IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), Australian Accounting Standard AASB 134 Interim Financial Reporting and the Corporations Regulations 2001.
Basis for conclusion
We conducted our review in accordance with ASRE 2410 Review of a Financial Report Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity (ASRE 2410) and ISRE 2410 Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity (ISRE 2410). Our responsibilities are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the review of the half-year financial report section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board's APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including Independence Standards) (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the annual financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code.
Directors' responsibilities for the half year financial report
The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation of the half year financial report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with International Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB, Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act 2001 and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the half year financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
55
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Auditor's responsibilities for the review of the half year financial report
Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on the half year financial report based on our review.
ASRE 2410 and ISRE 2410 require us to conclude whether we have become aware of any matter that makes us believe that the half year financial report is not in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 including giving a true and fair view of the Group's financial position as at 31 December 2024 and its performance for the half year ended on that date, and complying with International Accounting Standard IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as issued by the IASB, Australian Accounting Standard AASB 134 Interim Financial Reporting and the Corporations Regulations 2001.
A review of a half year financial report consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards or International Standards on Auditing issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.
Ernst & Young
Rodney Piltz
Partner
Melbourne
18 February 2025
56
|
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Non-IFRS financial information
We use various non-IFRS financial information to reflect our underlying financial performance.
Non-IFRS financial information is not defined or specified under the requirements of IFRS, but is derived from the Group's Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. The non-IFRS financial information and the below reconciliations included in this document are unaudited. The non-IFRS financial information presented is consistent with how management review financial performance of the Group with the Board and the investment community.
The "Definition and calculation of non-IFRS financial information" section outlines why we believe non-IFRS financial information is useful and the calculation methodology. We believe non-IFRS financial information provides useful information, however should not be considered as an indication of, or as a substitute for, statutory measures as an indicator of actual operating performance (such as profit or net operating cash flow) or any other measure of financial performance or position presented in accordance with IFRS, or as a measure of a company's profitability, liquidity or financial position.
The following tables provide reconciliations between non-IFRS financial information and their nearest respective IFRS measure.
Exceptional items
To improve the comparability of underlying financial performance between reporting periods, some of our non-IFRS financial information adjusts the relevant IFRS measures for exceptional items. Refer to the Group's Financial Report for further information on exceptional items.
Exceptional items are those gains or losses where their nature, including the expected frequency of the events giving rise to them, and impact is considered material to the Group's Consolidated Financial Statements. The exceptional items included within the Group's profit for the financial periods are detailed below.
|
Half year ended 31 December |
2024 US$M |
2023 US$M |
|
Revenue |
− |
− |
|
Other income |
− |
− |
|
Expenses excluding net finance costs, depreciation, amortisation and impairments |
(524) |
(54) |
|
Depreciation and amortisation |
− |
− |
|
Net reversal of impairment/(impairment) of property, plant and equipment and intangibles |
90 |
(3,500) |
|
Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses |
(120) |
(2,876) |
|
Profit/(loss) from operations |
(554) |
(6,430) |
|
|
|
|
|
Financial expenses |
(208) |
(190) |
|
Financial income |
− |
− |
|
Net finance costs |
(208) |
(190) |
|
Profit/(loss) before taxation |
(762) |
(6,620) |
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax (expense)/benefit |
96 |
978 |
|
Royalty-related taxation (net of income tax benefit) |
− |
− |
|
Total taxation (expense)/benefit |
96 |
978 |
|
Profit/(loss) after taxation |
(666) |
(5,642) |
|
Total exceptional items attributable to non-controlling interests |
− |
− |
|
Total exceptional items attributable to BHP shareholders |
(666) |
(5,642) |
|
|
|
|
|
Exceptional items attributable to BHP shareholders per share (US cents) |
(13.1) |
(111.3) |
|
Weighted basic average number of shares (Million) |
5,072 |
5,067 |
58
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Non-IFRS financial information derived from Consolidated Income Statement
Underlying attributable profit
|
Half year ended 31 December |
2024 US$M |
2023 US$M |
|
Profit after taxation attributable to BHP shareholders |
4,416 |
927 |
|
Total exceptional items attributable to BHP shareholders1 |
666 |
5,642 |
|
Underlying attributable profit |
5,082 |
6,569 |
1 Refer to Exceptional items for further information.
Underlying basic earnings per share
|
Half year ended 31 December |
2024 US cents |
2023 US cents |
|
Basic earnings per ordinary share |
87.1 |
18.3 |
|
Exceptional items attributable to BHP shareholders per share1 |
13.1 |
111.3 |
|
Underlying basic earnings per ordinary share |
100.2 |
129.6 |
1 Refer to Exceptional items for further information.
Underlying EBITDA
|
Half year ended 31 December |
2024 US$M |
2023 US$M |
|
Profit from operations |
9,126 |
4,803 |
|
Exceptional items included in profit from operations1 |
554 |
6,430 |
|
Underlying EBIT |
9,680 |
11,233 |
|
Depreciation and amortisation expense |
2,648 |
2,629 |
|
Net (reversal of impairment)/impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangibles |
(56) |
3,513 |
|
Exceptional items included in Depreciation, amortisation and impairments1 |
90 |
(3,500) |
|
Underlying EBITDA |
12,362 |
13,875 |
1 Refer to Exceptional items for further information.
59
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Underlying EBITDA - Segment
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 US$M |
Copper |
Iron Ore |
Coal |
Group and unallocated items/ eliminations2 |
Total Group |
|
Profit from operations |
3,883 |
6,034 |
289 |
(1,080) |
9,126 |
|
Exceptional items included in profit from operations1 |
− |
162 |
− |
392 |
554 |
|
Depreciation and amortisation expense |
1,121 |
988 |
277 |
262 |
2,648 |
|
Net (reversal of impairment)/impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangibles |
7 |
3 |
1 |
(67) |
(56) |
|
Exceptional items included in Depreciation, amortisation and impairments1 |
− |
− |
− |
90 |
90 |
|
Underlying EBITDA |
5,011 |
7,187 |
567 |
(403) |
12,362 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Half year ended 31 December 2023 US$M |
Copper |
Iron Ore |
Coal |
Group and unallocated items/ eliminations2 |
Total Group |
|
Profit from operations |
2,438 |
5,788 |
652 |
(4,075) |
4,803 |
|
Exceptional items included in profit from operations1 |
− |
2,899 |
− |
3,531 |
6,430 |
|
Depreciation and amortisation expense |
1,031 |
971 |
322 |
305 |
2,629 |
|
Net (reversal of impairment)/impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangibles |
4 |
8 |
1 |
3,500 |
3,513 |
|
Exceptional items included in Depreciation, amortisation and impairments1 |
− |
− |
− |
(3,500) |
(3,500) |
|
Underlying EBITDA |
3,473 |
9,666 |
975 |
(239) |
13,875 |
1 Refer to Exceptional items for further information.
2 Group and unallocated items includes functions, other unallocated operations, including Potash, Western Australia Nickel, legacy assets and consolidation adjustments.
Underlying EBITDA - Group and unallocated items
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 US$M |
Profit from operations |
Exceptional items included in profit from operations1 |
Depreciation and amortisation |
Net (reversal of)/impairments |
Exceptional items included in Depreciation, amortisation and impairments1 |
Underlying EBITDA |
|
Potash |
(134) |
− |
1 |
− |
− |
(133) |
|
Western Australia Nickel |
(623) |
320 |
− |
(90) |
90 |
(303) |
|
Other2 |
(323) |
72 |
261 |
23 |
− |
33 |
|
Total |
(1,080) |
392 |
262 |
(67) |
90 |
(403) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Half year ended 31 December 2023 US$M |
Profit from operations |
Exceptional items included in profit from operations1 |
Depreciation and amortisation |
Net impairments |
Exceptional items included in Depreciation, amortisation and impairments1 |
Underlying EBITDA |
|
Potash |
(130) |
− |
1 |
− |
− |
(129) |
|
Western Australia Nickel |
(3,740) |
3,500 |
66 |
3,500 |
(3,500) |
(174) |
|
Other2 |
(205) |
31 |
238 |
− |
− |
64 |
|
Total |
(4,075) |
3,531 |
305 |
3,500 |
(3,500) |
(239) |
1 Refer to Exceptional items for further information.
2 Other includes functions, other unallocated operations, legacy assets and consolidation adjustments.
60
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Underlying EBITDA margin
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 US$M |
Copper |
Iron Ore |
Coal |
Group and unallocated items/ eliminations1 |
Total Group |
|
Revenue - Group production |
9,235 |
11,494 |
2,806 |
489 |
24,024 |
|
Revenue - Third-party products |
1,030 |
14 |
− |
108 |
1,152 |
|
Revenue |
10,265 |
11,508 |
2,806 |
597 |
25,176 |
|
Underlying EBITDA - Group production |
4,942 |
7,185 |
567 |
(406) |
12,288 |
|
Underlying EBITDA - Third-party products |
69 |
2 |
− |
3 |
74 |
|
Underlying EBITDA2 |
5,011 |
7,187 |
567 |
(403) |
12,362 |
|
Segment contribution to the Group's Underlying EBITDA3 |
39% |
56% |
5% |
|
100% |
|
Underlying EBITDA margin4 |
54% |
63% |
20% |
|
51.1% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Half year ended 31 December 2023 US$M |
Copper |
Iron Ore |
Coal |
Group and unallocated items/ eliminations1 |
Total Group |
|
Revenue - Group production |
7,435 |
14,050 |
3,786 |
726 |
25,997 |
|
Revenue - Third-party products |
1,223 |
12 |
− |
− |
1,235 |
|
Revenue |
8,658 |
14,062 |
3,786 |
726 |
27,232 |
|
Underlying EBITDA - Group production |
3,445 |
9,667 |
975 |
(239) |
13,848 |
|
Underlying EBITDA - Third-party products |
28 |
(1) |
− |
− |
27 |
|
Underlying EBITDA2 |
3,473 |
9,666 |
975 |
(239) |
13,875 |
|
Segment contribution to the Group's Underlying EBITDA3 |
25% |
68% |
7% |
|
100% |
|
Underlying EBITDA margin4 |
46% |
69% |
26% |
|
53.3% |
1 Group and unallocated items includes functions, other unallocated operations, including Potash, Western Australia Nickel, legacy assets and consolidation adjustments.
2 We differentiate sales of our production (which may include third-party product feed) from direct sales of third-party products to better measure our operational profitability as a percentage of revenue. We may buy and sell third-party products to ensure a steady supply of product to our customers where there is occasional production variability or shortfalls from our assets.
3 Percentage contribution to Group Underlying EBITDA, excluding Group and unallocated items.
4 Underlying EBITDA margin excludes third-party products.
Effective tax rate
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||||
|
Half year ended 31 December |
Profit before taxation US$M |
Income tax expense US$M |
% |
|
Profit before taxation US$M |
Income tax expense US$M |
% |
|
Statutory effective tax rate |
8,669 |
(3,384) |
39.0 |
|
3,982 |
(2,276) |
57.2 |
|
Adjusted for: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange rate movements |
− |
48 |
|
|
− |
(29) |
|
|
Exceptional items1 |
762 |
(96) |
|
|
6,620 |
(978) |
|
|
Adjusted effective tax rate |
9,431 |
(3,432) |
36.4 |
|
10,602 |
(3,283) |
31.0 |
1 Refer to Exceptional items for further information.
61
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Non-IFRS financial information derived from Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
Capital and exploration expenditure
|
Half year ended 31 December |
2024 US$M |
2023 US$M |
|
Capital expenditure (purchases of property, plant and equipment) |
5,006 |
4,545 |
|
Add: Exploration and evaluation expenditure |
199 |
199 |
|
Capital and exploration expenditure (cash basis) |
5,205 |
4,744 |
Free cash flow
|
Half year ended 31 December |
2024 US$M |
2023 US$M |
|
Net operating cash flows |
8,317 |
8,884 |
|
Net investing cash flows |
(5,669) |
(5,079) |
|
Free cash flow |
2,648 |
3,805 |
Non-IFRS financial information derived from Consolidated Balance Sheet
Net debt and gearing ratio
|
|
31 Dec 2024 US$M |
31 Dec 2023 US$M |
30 June 2024 US$M |
|
Interest bearing liabilities - Current |
491 |
2,839 |
2,084 |
|
Interest bearing liabilities - Non-current |
19,704 |
19,565 |
18,634 |
|
Total interest bearing liabilities |
20,195 |
22,404 |
20,718 |
|
Comprising: |
|
|
|
|
Borrowing |
17,704 |
18,826 |
17,602 |
|
Lease liabilities |
2,491 |
3,578 |
3,116 |
|
Less: Lease liability associated with index-linked freight contracts |
56 |
840 |
511 |
|
Less: Cash and cash equivalents |
9,560 |
10,319 |
12,501 |
|
Less: Net debt management related instruments1 |
(1,394) |
(1,183) |
(1,395) |
|
Less: Net cash management related instruments2 |
180 |
(220) |
(19) |
|
Less: Total derivatives included in net debt |
(1,214) |
(1,403) |
(1,414) |
|
Net debt |
11,793 |
12,648 |
9,120 |
|
Net assets |
49,597 |
45,591 |
49,120 |
|
Gearing |
19.2% |
21.7% |
15.7% |
1 Represents the net cross currency and interest rate swaps included within current and non-current other financial assets and liabilities.
2 Represents the net forward exchange contracts related to cash management included within current and non-current other financial assets and liabilities.
62
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Net debt waterfall
|
|
31 Dec 2024 US$M |
31 Dec 2023 US$M |
|
Net debt at the beginning of the period |
(9,120) |
(11,166) |
|
Net operating cash flows |
8,317 |
8,884 |
|
Net investing cash flows |
(5,669) |
(5,079) |
|
Net financing cash flows |
(5,270) |
(5,983) |
|
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(2,622) |
(2,178) |
|
Carrying value of interest bearing liability net repayments/(proceeds) |
161 |
1,324 |
|
Carrying value of debt related instruments settlements/(proceeds) |
147 |
− |
|
Carrying value of cash management related instruments (proceeds)/settlements |
(261) |
(311) |
|
Fair value change on hedged loans |
90 |
(345) |
|
Fair value change on hedging derivatives |
(17) |
323 |
|
Foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
(317) |
74 |
|
Lease additions (excluding leases associated with index-linked freight contracts) |
(180) |
(298) |
|
Transfer to liability directly associated with assets held for sale |
− |
69 |
|
Other |
326 |
(140) |
|
Non-cash movements |
(98) |
(317) |
|
Net debt at the end of the period |
(11,793) |
(12,648) |
Net operating assets
|
|
31 Dec 2024 US$M |
31 Dec 2023 US$M |
|
Net assets |
49,597 |
45,591 |
|
Less: Non-operating assets |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
(9,560) |
(10,319) |
|
Trade and other receivables1 |
(10) |
(12) |
|
Other financial assets2 |
(1,648) |
(1,197) |
|
Current tax assets |
(728) |
(446) |
|
Deferred tax assets |
(61) |
(76) |
|
Assets held for sale3 |
− |
(1,570) |
|
Add: Non-operating liabilities |
|
|
|
Trade and other payables4 |
249 |
272 |
|
Interest bearing liabilities |
20,195 |
22,404 |
|
Other financial liabilities5 |
1,521 |
1,761 |
|
Current tax payable |
1,048 |
290 |
|
Non-current tax payable |
3 |
39 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities |
3,537 |
3,325 |
|
Liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale3 |
− |
752 |
|
Net operating assets |
64,143 |
60,814 |
1 Represents external finance receivable and accrued interest receivable included within other receivables.
2 Represents cross currency and interest rate swaps, forward exchange contracts related to cash management and investment in shares, other investments, deferred receivable from divestment of subsidiaries and operations and associated receivables contingent on outcome of future events relating to realised commodity prices.
3 Represents Blackwater and Daunia assets and liabilities classified as held for sale as at 31 December 2023 that were subsequently divested on 2 April 2024.
4 Represents accrued interest payable included within other payables.
5 Represents cross currency and interest rate swaps and forward exchange contracts related to cash management.
63
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Other non-IFRS financial information
Principal factors that affect Revenue, Profit from operations and Underlying EBITDA
The following table describes the impact of the principal factors that affected Revenue, Profit from operations and Underlying EBITDA for half year ended 31 December 2024 and relates them back to our Consolidated Income Statement.
|
|
Revenue US$M |
Total expenses, Other income US$M |
Profit from operations US$M |
Depreciation, amortisation and impairments and Exceptional Items US$M |
Underlying EBITDA US$M |
|
Half year ended 31 December 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
27,232 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income |
|
261 |
|
|
|
|
Expenses excluding net finance costs |
|
(19,982) |
|
|
|
|
(Loss)/profit from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses |
|
(2,708) |
|
|
|
|
Total other income, expenses excluding net finance costs and Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses |
|
(22,429) |
|
|
|
|
Profit from operations |
|
|
4,803 |
|
|
|
Depreciation, amortisation and impairments |
|
|
|
6,142 |
|
|
Exceptional item included in Depreciation, amortisation and impairments |
|
|
|
(3,500) |
|
|
Exceptional items |
|
|
|
6,430 |
|
|
Underlying EBITDA |
|
|
|
|
13,875 |
|
Change in sales prices |
(2,430) |
− |
(2,430) |
− |
(2,430) |
|
Price-linked costs |
− |
495 |
495 |
− |
495 |
|
Net price impact |
(2,430) |
495 |
(1,935) |
− |
(1,935) |
|
Change in volumes |
1,382 |
(273) |
1,109 |
− |
1,109 |
|
Operating cash costs |
− |
(580) |
(580) |
− |
(580) |
|
Exploration and business development |
− |
(10) |
(10) |
− |
(10) |
|
Change in controllable cash costs1 |
− |
(590) |
(590) |
− |
(590) |
|
Exchange rates |
− |
380 |
380 |
− |
380 |
|
Inflation on costs |
− |
(335) |
(335) |
− |
(335) |
|
Fuel, energy, and consumable price movements |
− |
67 |
67 |
− |
67 |
|
Non-cash |
− |
66 |
66 |
− |
66 |
|
One-off items |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Change in other costs |
− |
178 |
178 |
− |
178 |
|
Asset sales |
− |
(17) |
(17) |
− |
(17) |
|
Ceased and sold operations |
(938) |
585 |
(353) |
− |
(353) |
|
New and acquired operations |
− |
− |
− |
− |
− |
|
Other |
(70) |
165 |
95 |
− |
95 |
|
Depreciation, amortisation and impairments |
− |
(40) |
(40) |
40 |
− |
|
Exceptional items |
− |
5,876 |
5,876 |
(5,876) |
− |
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
25,176 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other income |
|
222 |
|
|
|
|
Expenses excluding net finance costs |
|
(16,367) |
|
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses |
|
95 |
|
|
|
|
Total other income, expenses excluding net finance costs and Profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments, related impairments and expenses |
|
(16,050) |
|
|
|
|
Profit from operations |
|
|
9,126 |
|
|
|
Depreciation, amortisation and impairments |
|
|
|
2,592 |
|
|
Exceptional item included in Depreciation, amortisation and impairments |
|
|
|
90 |
|
|
Exceptional items |
|
|
|
554 |
|
|
Underlying EBITDA |
|
|
|
|
12,362 |
1 Collectively, we refer to the change in operating cash costs and change in exploration and business development as Change in controllable cash costs. Operating cash costs by definition do not include non-cash costs. The change in operating cash costs also excludes the impact of exchange rates and inflation, changes in fuel, energy costs and consumable costs, changes in exploration and evaluation and business development costs and one-off items. These items are excluded so as to provide a consistent measurement of changes in costs across all segments, based on the factors that are within the control and responsibility of the segment.
64
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Underlying return on capital employed (ROCE)
|
|
31 Dec 2024 US$M |
31 Dec 2023 US$M |
|
Profit after taxation |
5,285 |
1,706 |
|
Exceptional items1 |
666 |
5,642 |
|
Subtotal |
5,951 |
7,348 |
|
Adjusted for: |
|
|
|
Net finance costs |
457 |
821 |
|
Exceptional items included within net finance costs1 |
(208) |
(190) |
|
Income tax expense on net finance costs |
(106) |
(187) |
|
Profit after taxation excluding net finance costs and exceptional items |
6,094 |
7,792 |
|
Annualised Profit after taxation excluding net finance costs and exceptional items |
12,188 |
15,584 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets at the beginning of the period |
49,120 |
48,530 |
|
Net debt at the beginning of the period |
9,120 |
11,166 |
|
Capital employed at the beginning of the period |
58,240 |
59,696 |
|
Net assets at the end of the period |
49,597 |
45,591 |
|
Net debt at the end of the period |
11,793 |
12,648 |
|
Capital employed at the end of the period |
61,390 |
58,239 |
|
Average capital employed |
59,815 |
58,968 |
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying Return on Capital Employed |
20.4% |
26.4% |
1 Refer to Exceptional items for further information.
Underlying return on capital employed (ROCE) by segment
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 US$M |
Copper |
Iron Ore |
Coal |
Group and unallocated items/ eliminations1 |
Total Group |
|
Annualised profit after taxation excluding net finance costs and exceptional items |
4,228 |
8,864 |
438 |
(1,342) |
12,188 |
|
Average capital employed |
31,938 |
13,005 |
6,864 |
8,008 |
59,815 |
|
Underlying Return on Capital Employed |
13% |
68% |
6% |
− |
20.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Half year ended 31 December 2023 US$M |
Copper |
Iron Ore |
Coal |
Group and unallocated items/ eliminations1 |
Total Group |
|
Annualised profit after taxation excluding net finance costs and exceptional items |
3,242 |
12,180 |
1,032 |
(870) |
15,584 |
|
Average capital employed |
31,029 |
14,406 |
6,743 |
6,790 |
58,968 |
|
Underlying Return on Capital Employed |
10% |
85% |
15% |
− |
26.4% |
1 Group and unallocated items includes functions, other unallocated operations including Potash, Western Australia Nickel (comprising Nickel West and West Musgrave, both transitioned into temporary suspension in the period ending Dec-2024), legacy assets and consolidation adjustments.
65
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Underlying return on capital employed (ROCE) by asset
|
Half year ended 31 December 2024 US$M |
Western Australia Iron Ore |
Antamina |
Escondida |
Pampa Norte |
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance |
Copper South Australia |
New South Wales Energy Coal1 |
Potash2 |
Western Australia Nickel3 |
Other |
Total Group |
|
Annualised profit after taxation excluding net finance costs and exceptional items |
8,828 |
500 |
3,148 |
330 |
250 |
440 |
212 |
(302) |
(750) |
(468) |
12,188 |
|
Average capital employed |
19,855 |
1,451 |
10,717 |
4,280 |
6,749 |
15,085 |
(11) |
6,803 |
110 |
(5,224) |
59,815 |
|
Underlying Return on Capital Employed |
44% |
34% |
29% |
8% |
4% |
3% |
− |
− |
− |
− |
20.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Half year ended 31 December 2023 US$M |
Western Australia Iron Ore |
Antamina |
Escondida |
Pampa Norte |
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance |
Copper South Australia |
New South Wales Energy Coal1 |
Potash2 |
Western Australia Nickel3 |
Other |
Total Group |
|
Annualised profit after taxation excluding net finance costs and exceptional items |
12,184 |
426 |
2,484 |
258 |
822 |
372 |
300 |
(258) |
(514) |
(490) |
15,584 |
|
Average capital employed |
19,718 |
1,382 |
10,693 |
4,221 |
6,903 |
14,462 |
(338) |
4,859 |
1,648 |
(4,580) |
58,968 |
|
Underlying Return on Capital Employed |
62% |
31% |
23% |
6% |
12% |
3% |
− |
− |
(31%) |
− |
26.4% |
1 NSWEC ROCE has not been shown as it is distorted by negative capital employed due to the rehabilitation provision being the primary balance remaining on Balance Sheet following previous impairments.
2 Potash ROCE has not been shown because it is distorted as the asset is non-producing and in its development phase.
3 Western Australia Nickel ROCE has not been shown following transition into temporary suspension.
Unit costs
Unit costs do not include the re-allocation to assets in HY2025 of the costs associated with the employee entitlements and allowances review conducted in FY2023, which were reported in Group and Unallocated in that period.
The calculation of Escondida, Spence and Copper South Australia unit costs are set out in the tables below.
|
|
Escondida unit costs |
Spence unit costs |
||
|
US$M |
H1 FY2025 |
H1 FY2024 |
H1 FY2025 |
H1 FY2024 |
|
Revenue |
5,828 |
4,427 |
1,254 |
1,029 |
|
Underlying EBITDA |
3,468 |
2,347 |
565 |
428 |
|
Gross costs |
2,360 |
2,080 |
689 |
601 |
|
Less: by-product credits |
336 |
248 |
64 |
49 |
|
Less: freight |
120 |
89 |
29 |
22 |
|
Less: Government royalties |
58 |
− |
− |
− |
|
Net costs |
1,846 |
1,743 |
596 |
530 |
|
Sales (kt) |
629 |
523 |
135 |
121 |
|
Sales (Mlb) |
1,387 |
1,152 |
297 |
268 |
|
Cost per pound (US$)1 |
1.33 |
1.51 |
2.01 |
1.98 |
1 H1 FY25 based on average realised exchange rates of USD/CLP 947 (H1 FY24 USD/CLP 874).
66
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
|
Copper South Australia unit costs |
|
|
US$M |
H1 FY2025 |
H1 FY2024 |
|
Revenue |
2,083 |
1,853 |
|
Underlying EBITDA |
742 |
591 |
|
Gross costs |
1,341 |
1,262 |
|
Less: by-product credits |
728 |
596 |
|
Less: freight |
15 |
28 |
|
Less: Government royalties |
70 |
65 |
|
Less: re-allocation of costs associated with the employee entitlements and allowances review |
1 |
11 |
|
Net costs |
527 |
562 |
|
Sales (kt) |
152 |
154 |
|
Sales (Mlb) |
335 |
340 |
|
Cost per pound (US$)1 |
1.57 |
1.65 |
1 H1 FY25 based on an average realised exchange rate of AUD/USD 0.66 (H1 FY24 AUD/USD 0.65).
The calculation of WAIO unit costs is set out in the table below.
|
|
WAIO unit costs |
|
|
US$M |
H1 FY2025 |
H1 FY2024 |
|
Revenue |
11,430 |
13,991 |
|
Underlying EBITDA |
7,140 |
9,646 |
|
Gross costs |
4,290 |
4,345 |
|
Less: freight |
1,152 |
979 |
|
Less: Government royalties |
796 |
992 |
|
Less: re-allocation of costs associated with the employee entitlements and allowances review |
18 |
33 |
|
Net costs |
2,324 |
2,341 |
|
Sales (kt, equity share) |
127,749 |
126,786 |
|
Cost per tonne (US$)1 |
18.19 |
18.46 |
1 H1 FY25 based on an average realised exchange rate of AUD/USD 0.66 (H1 FY24 AUD/USD 0.65).
The calculation of BMA unit costs is set out in the table below.
|
|
BMA unit costs |
|
|
US$M |
H1 FY2025 |
H1 FY2024 |
|
Revenue |
1,853 |
2,882 |
|
Underlying EBITDA |
391 |
810 |
|
Gross costs |
1,462 |
2,072 |
|
Less: freight |
14 |
14 |
|
Less: Government royalties |
291 |
631 |
|
Less: re-allocation of costs associated with the employee entitlements and allowances review |
1 |
4 |
|
Net costs |
1,156 |
1,423 |
|
Sales (kt, equity share) |
8,999 |
11,031 |
|
Cost per tonne (US$)1 |
128.46 |
129.00 |
1 H1 FY25 based on an average realised exchange rate of AUD/USD 0.66 (H1 FY24 AUD/USD 0.65).
67
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Definition and calculation of Non-IFRS financial information
|
Non-IFRS financial information |
Reasons why we believe the non-IFRS financial information are useful |
Calculation methodology |
|
Underlying attributable profit |
Allows the comparability of underlying financial performance by excluding the impacts of exceptional items and is also the basis on which our dividend payout ratio policy is applied. |
Profit after taxation attributable to BHP shareholders excluding any exceptional items attributable to BHP shareholders. |
|
Underlying basic earnings per share |
On a per share basis, allows the comparability of underlying financial performance by excluding the impacts of exceptional items. |
Underlying attributable profit divided by the weighted basic average number of shares. |
|
Underlying EBITDA |
Used to help assess current operational profitability excluding the impacts of sunk costs (i.e. depreciation from initial investment). Each is a measure that management uses internally to assess the performance of the Group's segments and make decisions on the allocation of resources. |
Earnings before net finance costs, depreciation, amortisation and impairments, taxation expense, Discontinued operations and exceptional items. Underlying EBITDA includes BHP's share of profit/(loss) from investments accounted for using the equity method including net finance costs, depreciation, amortisation and impairments and taxation expense/(benefit). |
|
Underlying EBITDA margin |
Underlying EBITDA excluding third party product EBITDA, divided by revenue excluding third party product revenue. |
|
|
Underlying EBIT |
Used to help assess current operational profitability excluding net finance costs and taxation expense (each of which are managed at the Group level) as well as Discontinued operations and any exceptional items. |
Earnings before net finance costs, taxation expense, Discontinued operations and any exceptional items. Underlying EBIT includes BHP's share of profit/(loss) from investments accounted for using the equity method including net finance costs and taxation expense/(benefit). |
|
Profit from operations |
Earnings before net finance costs, taxation expense and Discontinued operations. Profit from operations includes Revenue, Other income, Expenses excluding net finance costs and BHP's share of profit/(loss) from investments accounted for using the equity method including net finance costs and taxation expense/(benefit). |
|
|
Capital and exploration expenditure |
Used as part of our Capital Allocation Framework to assess efficient deployment of capital. Represents the total outflows of our operational investing expenditure. |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment and exploration and evaluation expenditure. |
68
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
Non-IFRS financial information |
Reasons why we believe the non-IFRS financial information are useful |
Calculation methodology |
|
|
Free cash flow |
It is a key measure used as part of our Capital Allocation Framework. Reflects our operational cash performance inclusive of investment expenditure, which helps to highlight how much cash was generated in the period to be available for the servicing of debt and distribution to shareholders. |
Net operating cash flows less net investing cash flows. |
|
|
Non-IFRS financial information |
Reasons why we believe the non-IFRS financial information are useful |
Calculation methodology |
|
|
Net debt |
Net debt shows the position of gross debt less index-linked freight contracts offset by cash immediately available to pay debt if required and any associated derivative financial instruments. Liability associated with index-linked freight contracts, which are required to be remeasured to the prevailing freight index at each reporting date, are excluded from the net debt calculation due to the short-term volatility of the index they relate to not aligning with how the Group uses net debt for decision making in relation to the Capital Allocation Framework. Net debt includes the fair value of derivative financial instruments used to hedge cash and borrowings to reflect the Group's risk management strategy of reducing the volatility of net debt caused by fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates. Net debt, along with the gearing ratio, is used to monitor the Group's capital management by relating net debt relative to equity from shareholders. |
Interest bearing liabilities less liability associated with index-linked freight contracts less cash and cash equivalents less net cross currency and interest rate swaps less net cash management related instruments for the Group at the reporting date. |
|
|
Gearing ratio |
Ratio of Net debt to Net debt plus Net assets. |
||
|
Net operating assets |
Enables a clearer view of the assets deployed to generate earnings by highlighting the net operating assets of the business separate from the financing and tax balances. This measure helps provide an indicator of the underlying performance of our assets and enhances comparability between them. |
Operating assets net of operating liabilities, including the carrying value of equity accounted investments and predominantly excludes cash balances, loans to associates, interest bearing liabilities, derivatives hedging our net debt, assets held for sale, liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale and tax balances. |
|
69
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
Non-IFRS financial information |
Reasons why we believe the non-IFRS financial information are useful |
Calculation methodology |
|
|
Underlying return on capital employed (ROCE) |
Indicator of the Group's capital efficiency and is provided on an underlying basis to allow comparability of underlying financial performance by excluding the impacts of exceptional items. |
Profit after taxation excluding exceptional items and net finance costs (after taxation) divided by average capital employed. Profit after taxation excluding exceptional items and net finance costs (after taxation) is profit after taxation excluding exceptional items, net finance costs and the estimated taxation impact of net finance costs. These are annualised for a half year end reporting period. The estimated tax impact is calculated using a prima facie taxation rate on net finance costs (excluding any foreign exchange impact). Average capital employed is calculated as the average of net assets less net debt for the last two reporting periods. |
|
|
Adjusted effective tax rate |
Provides an underlying tax basis to allow comparability of underlying financial performance by excluding the impacts of exceptional items. |
Total taxation expense/(benefit) excluding exceptional items and exchange rate movements included in taxation expense/(benefit) divided by Profit before taxation excluding exceptional items. |
|
|
Unit costs |
Used to assess the controllable financial performance of the Group's assets for each unit of production. Unit costs are adjusted for site specific non-controllable factors to enhance comparability between the Group's assets. |
Ratio of net costs of the assets to the equity share of sales tonnage. Net costs is defined as revenue less Underlying EBITDA and excludes freight, re-allocation of the costs associated with the employee entitlements and allowance review in FY2023, and other costs, depending on the nature of each asset. Freight is excluded as the Group believes it provides a similar basis of comparison to our peer group. The re-allocation to assets in FY2024 and FY2025 of the costs associated with the employee entitlements and allowances review in FY2023 are excluded in asset unit costs as these costs were already recognised in Group and Unallocated in FY2023. |
|
70
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
|
Non-IFRS financial information |
Reasons why we believe the non-IFRS financial information are useful |
Calculation methodology |
|
|
|
Escondida, Spence and Copper South Australia unit costs exclude: · by-product credits being the favourable impact of by-products (such as gold or silver) to determine the directly attributable costs of copper production. · government royalties, as these are costs that are not deemed to be under the Group's control and the Group believes exclusion provides a similar basis of comparison to our peer group. WAIO and BMA unit costs exclude: government royalties, as these are costs that are not deemed to be under the Group's control and the Group believes exclusion provides a similar basis of comparison to our peer group. |
|
71
BHP | Financial results for the half year ended 31 December 2024
Definition and calculation of principal factors
The method of calculation of the principal factors that affect the period on period movements of Revenue, Profit from operations and Underlying EBITDA are as follows:
|
Principal factor |
Method of calculation |
|
Change in sales prices |
Change in average realised price for each operation from the prior period to the current period, multiplied by current period sales volumes. |
|
Price-linked costs |
Change in price-linked costs (mainly royalties) for each operation from the prior period to the current period, multiplied by current period sales volumes. |
|
Change in volumes |
Change in sales volumes for each operation multiplied by the prior year average realised price less variable unit cost. |
|
Controllable cash costs |
Total of operating cash costs and exploration and business development costs. |
|
Operating cash costs |
Change in total costs, other than price-linked costs, exchange rates, inflation on costs, fuel, energy, and consumable price movements, non-cash costs and one-off items as defined below for each operation from the prior period to the current period. |
|
Exploration and evaluation and business development |
Exploration and evaluation and business development expense in the current period minus exploration and business development expense in the prior period. |
|
Exchange rates |
Change in exchange rate multiplied by current period local currency revenue and expenses. |
|
Inflation on costs |
Change in inflation rate applied to expenses, other than depreciation and amortisation, price-linked costs, exploration and business development expenses, expenses in ceased and sold operations and expenses in new and acquired operations. |
|
Fuel, energy, and consumable price movements |
Fuel and energy expense and price differences above inflation on consumables in the current period minus fuel and energy expense in the prior period. |
|
Non-cash |
Change in net impact of capitalisation and depletion of deferred stripping from the prior period to the current period. |
|
One-off items |
Change in costs exceeding a pre-determined threshold associated with an unexpected event that had not occurred in the last two years and is not reasonably likely to occur within the next two years. |
|
Asset sales |
Profit/(loss) on the sale of assets or operations in the current period minus profit/(loss) on sale of assets or operations in the prior period. |
|
Ceased and sold operations |
Underlying EBITDA for operations that ceased (including temporary suspension) or were sold in the current period minus Underlying EBITDA for operations that ceased (including temporary suspension) or were sold in the prior period. |
|
New and acquired operations |
Underlying EBITDA for operations that were acquired in the current period minus Underlying EBITDA for operations that were acquired in the prior period. |
|
Share of profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments |
Share of profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments for the current period minus share of profit/(loss) from equity accounted investments in the prior period. |
|
Other |
Variances not explained by the above factors. |
72
[1] Data includes former OZL (except Brazil), and Blackwater and Daunia mines until 2 April 2024, except where specified otherwise.
[2] Combined employee and contractor frequency per 1 million hours worked. FY24 data restatements for HPIF and TRIFR restated due to ongoing verification activities resulting in updated recordable injury and exposure hour data.
[3] Our operational GHG emissions are the Scopes 1 and 2 emissions from our operated assets. Baseline year data and performance data from FY24 have been adjusted for divestment of our interest in BMC (completed on 3 May 2022), divestment of our Petroleum business (merger with Woodside completed on 1 June 2022), BMA's divestment of the Blackwater and Daunia mines (completed on 2 April 2024), our acquisition of OZ Minerals (completed on 2 May 2023) and for methodology changes (use of IPCC Assessment Report 5 (AR5) Global Warming Potentials and the transition to a facility-specific GHG emission calculation methodology for fugitives at Caval Ridge and Saraji South). This provides the data most relevant to assessing progress against our operational GHG emissions medium-term target and differs from annual total operational GHG emissions inventory (unadjusted for acquisitions, divestments and methodology changes).
[4] Baseline year data and performance data have been adjusted to only include voyages associated with the transportation of commodities currently in BHP's portfolio due to the data availability challenges of adjusting by asset or operation for CY08 and subsequent year data. GHG emissions intensity calculations currently include the transportation of copper, iron ore, steelmaking coal, energy coal, molybdenum, uranium and nickel. Baseline year data and performance data have also been adjusted for a methodology change to use maritime transport emission factors from EU Regulation 2023/1805, after The British Standards Institution EN 16258 standard (the source of the emission factors we previously used) was withdrawn in CY23.
[5] Includes former OZL (except Brazil) for HY25 only.
[6] Based on a 'point in time' snapshot of employees as at the end of the relevant reporting period.
[7] We define gender balance as a minimum 40% women and 40% men in line with the definitions used by entities such as the International Labour Organization.
[8] Includes some but not all former OZL reflecting progressive migration of employee data onto BHP systems.
[9] Indigenous employee participation for Australia is at Minerals Australia operations; for Chile is at Minerals Americas operations in Chile; and for Canada is at the Jansen Potash project and operations in Canada.
[10] Indigenous employee representation in Australia, is at Minerals Australia operations and includes some but not all former OZL (operational and non-operational roles) reflecting progressive migration of employee data onto BHP systems.
[11] Nature-positive management practices refer to an area under stewardship that has a formal management plan that includes conservation, restoration or regenerative practices. This metric is measured on an annual basis and an update will be provided in the full year results for FY25.
[12] 'Land and water we steward' excludes areas we hold under greenfield exploration licenses (or equivalent tenements), which are outside the area of influence of our existing mine operations.
1 USD amounts reflect those included in the announcement of the settlement agreement calculated based on actual transactional (historical) exchange rates related to funding provided to Fundação Renova for investment to date with future spend calculated using the 28 June 2024 BRL/USD exchange rate of 5.56.
[i] Copper equivalent production for major commodities including copper, iron ore and coal, excluding the now divested Blackwater and Daunia mines and WAN which has entered temporary suspension. Calculated based on FY24 average realised prices.
[ii] Data includes former OZL (except Brazil)
[iii] We use various non-IFRS financial information to reflect our underlying performance. For further information on the reconciliations of certain non-IFRS financial information measures to our statutory measures, reasons for usefulness and calculation methodology, please refer to non-IFRS financial information
[iv] Production increased 14%, excluding production from the now divested Blackwater and Daunia mines.
[v] Calculated on a copper equivalent production weighted average basis, based on FY24 average realised prices.
[vi] On a total operations basis. Twenty-year average includes all half-year reporting periods from H2 FY05 to H1 FY25 (inclusive).
[vii] Maintenance capital includes non-discretionary spend for the following purposes: deferred development and production stripping; risk reduction; compliance and asset integrity.
[viii] Subject to movements in exchange rates.
[ix] With respect to Group capital and exploration expenditure, medium term refers to the average for FY27-FY29.
[x] Calculated using Net Debt as at 31 December 2024 and EBITDA for the last twelve months (CY24).
[xi] Credit ratings are forward-looking opinions on credit risk. Moody's and Fitch's credit ratings express the opinion of each agency on the ability and willingness of BHP to meet its financial obligations in full and on time. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by an assigning rating agency. Any credit rating should be evaluated independently of any other information.
[xii] 10% increase in copper production from H1 FY24 (894 kt) to H1 FY25 (987 kt). 19% increase in copper production from FY22 (1,574 kt) to FY24 (1,865 kt).
[xiii] The pathway to increase potential production at Copper South Australia is subject to the development of an integrated asset plan, regulatory approvals, market capacity and, in certain cases, the development of exploration assets, which factors are uncertain. The pathway represents our current aspiration for Copper South Australia, and is not intended to be a projection, forecast or production target. Copper equivalent production includes potential increases in production rates and contribution from by-products, as well as potential impacts from our exploration program. Copper equivalent production is calculated using 2024 long term (real) consensus prices as at June 2024 of US$4.50/lb for copper, US$1,819/oz for gold, US$23/oz for silver and US$64/lb for uranium.
[xiv] Based on CY24 production.
[xv] Represents our current aspiration for BHP group attributable copper production, and not intended to be a projection, forecast or production target. Includes potential increases in production rates, as well as potential from non-operated joint ventures as well as exploration programs. The pathway is subject to the completion of technical studies to support Mineral Resource and Ore Reserves estimates, capital allocation, regulatory approvals, market capacity, and, in certain cases, the development of exploration assets, in which factors are uncertain.
[xvi] FY25 and medium-term unit cost guidance is based on an exchange rate of AUD/USD 0.66.
[xvii] Subject to movements in exchange rates; +/- 50% in any given year.
[xviii] All financial obligations are presented on a real, undiscounted, 100% basis and will accrue inflation at IPCA inflation rate. Payments will be made in Brazilian Reais. USD amounts are calculated using 31 December 2024 BRL/USD exchange rate of 6.19.
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