BHP released its half year results on 17 February 2026 at 8.30am (AEDT). Mike Henry, Chief Executive Officer, and Vandita Pant, Chief Financial Officer, reviewed the Company's operating and financial performance.
BHP Chief Executive Officer, Mike Henry:
"We continue to prosecute our strategy of operational excellence, distinctive social value creation and growth in copper and potash. We have achieved ~30% growth in copper production in the last four years, positioning us ahead of the strengthening copper market that we had anticipated.
This half marks a milestone for BHP with Copper contributing the largest share of our overall earnings, at 51% of Underlying EBITDA.
BHP is the world's largest copper producer and with strong performance at Escondida, and solid contributions from our other operations in Chile and South Australia, we have increased FY26 group copper guidance to 1.9 – 2.0 Mt. This is allowing us to maximise increased earnings from the recent run up in copper prices as well as gold.
With four compelling growth options across Chile, Argentina, Arizona and South Australia, we are well positioned to capture the forecast higher long term copper prices. We expect first production and revenue from the Jansen Stage 1 potash project in mid-CY27. Following completion of our definitive updated cost estimate, at our recent Operational Review we announced an increase in Jansen Stage 1 project expenditure to US$8.4 bn.
Our Western Australia iron ore business continues to deliver for shareholders. WAIO achieved record first half production and shipments and we further strengthened our position as the world's lowest cost major iron ore producer. We continue to invest in this business. We are adding a sixth rail car dumper at Port Hedland so trains can unload faster, supporting an uplift in sustainable volumes to >305 Mt.
At a Group level, we again delivered a safe, reliable half, with resilient margins and cash flows that support disciplined investment and strong shareholder returns.
Underlying EBITDA increased 25% to US$15.5 bn with an Underlying EBITDA margin of 58%. Underlying Attributable profit also increased by more than 20% to US$6.2 bn. Underlying ROCE increased by around 3 percentage points to circa 24%.
Consistently strong cash generation and balance sheet strength remain hallmarks of BHP. We generated US$9.4 bn in operating cash and finished the half with net debt of US$14.7 bn, comfortably around the midpoint of our US$10–20 bn target range.
We determined an interim dividend of US 73 cents per share, equivalent to a 60% payout ratio, reflecting strong operating performance, disciplined capital allocation and confidence in our outlook.
Today, we announced the most valuable silver streaming agreement ever relating to our share of Antamina's future silver production, which follows the agreement in December relating to our share of WAIO's inland power consumption. These are examples of our active approach to capital portfolio and asset management, improving our financial flexibility and unlocking value. Together, these agreements will unlock over US$6 bn of cash. We see the potential to unlock up to a total of US$10 bn.
Looking ahead we expect circa 3% global economic growth in CY26. China's economy is resilient after meeting its around 5% target last year. India continues to outperform. We are optimistic that the economic backdrop is supportive for our key commodities. Against a structurally higher cost environment, these conditions reinforce the importance of productivity and cost discipline and play to the strengths of BHP's low cost, diversified portfolio.
Our growth pipeline sets BHP apart, both from expansion of our existing Tier 1 assets and exciting greenfield projects like Jansen, Vicuña and Resolution, and will allow us to deliver resilient returns through the cycle"
