- BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) and Mitsubishi say they expect their newest coal mining operation in eastern Australia to be able to ride out a prolonged market slump, even amid concerns raised by new Chinese import tariffs.
- The companies today officially open their $3.4B Caval Ridge joint venture coking coal mine in Queensland state; the operation, designed to produce 5.5M metric tons/year, first started began coal earlier this year.
- The price of Australia’s premium coking coal has fallen more than 15% YTD to ~US$112/ton, prompting widespread cost-cutting and workforce cuts, including the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance joint venture, which is the world’s biggest exporter of coking coal.
- BHP +3.1% premarket.