BHP starts Escondida restart while BHP stock falls 1.99 percent

Published on 10/01/2026 at 10:13 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

The Escondida halt followed a fatal accident on September 25, 2026. BHP stock costs EUR 73.75 on October 1, 2026 after EUR 75.25.

BHP, US0886061086, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

BHP (US0886061086) was trading at EUR 73.75 at Lang & Schwarz on October 1, 2026 at 10:04 a.m. CEST, down 1.99 percent versus the EUR 75.25 prior close. As Yahoo Finance reported on September 25, 2026, BHP initiated a progressive resumption of activity at its Escondida copper mine after a fatal maintenance accident.

Escondida restart meets earnings exposure

Escondida produced approximately 1.30 million tonnes of copper in fiscal 2026, and BHP holds a 57.50 percent controlling interest in the mine, according to Yahoo Finance. The restart therefore addresses an operating issue tied directly to the company's largest earnings engine, rather than a peripheral asset.

The operational disruption follows a sharp fiscal 2026 improvement. Discovery Alert reported that revenue rose 15.00 percent to USD 58.80 billion and underlying attributable profit increased 30.00 percent to USD 13.20 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026.

Copper growth meets higher project costs

Copper segment EBITDA, meaning earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, rose 48.00 percent to USD 18.20 billion in fiscal 2026, while group underlying EBITDA increased 27.00 percent to USD 32.90 billion, according to Discovery Alert. That mix makes production continuity at Escondida especially important as BHP invests heavily in future capacity.

Yahoo Finance also reported that Stage 1 capital expenditure for the Jansen potash project had escalated 22.00 percent to 29.00 percent, reaching USD 7.00 billion to USD 7.40 billion. The contrast is clear: copper is carrying more of the earnings base, while growth projects demand tighter cost control.

October review sets the next checkpoint

BHP's official financial calendar schedules an operational review for October 20, 2026, covering the quarter ended September 30, 2026. The update should give investors a dated view of Escondida's restart, production performance and the cost trajectory of BHP's expansion projects.

Stock falls 1.99 percent in trading

BHP was trading at EUR 73.75 at Lang & Schwarz on October 1, 2026 at 10:04 a.m. CEST, down 1.99 percent against the EUR 75.25 prior close. The US-listed ADR last stood at USD 84.84 on September 30, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET, within a 52-week range of USD 52.18 to USD 98.71; its market capitalization was USD 215.5 billion as of that date. The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of BHP stock.