bhp group ltd produced less iron ore copper and steelmaking coal in its first fiscal quarter mostly because of planned maintenance work at its operations the worlds biggest mining company by market value said it produced 633 million metric tons of iron ore in the three months through september down 4 yearoveryear and 3 lower than the quarter immediately prior bhp reiterated that it expects to produce between 249 million and 259 million tons for the year through june 2022 the miners australian ironore mining hub undertook increased levels of planned maintenance during the quarter while temporary rail labor shortages because of pandemicrelated border restrictions also had a minor impact bhp said bhp is the worlds third biggest producer of iron ore a key ingredient in manufacturing steel the company in september received regulatory approval to increase capacity at its port hedland operations and directors have approved a socalled debottlenecking program at the port that should begin before the end of 2021 the miner said bhps coppermining operations in australia and chile produced 376500 tons during the quarter down 9 on a year ago and 7 lower than the preceding three months the miner reported lower volumes at its olympic dam mine in southern australia because of a smelter maintenance project which was delayed by one month also because of border restrictions within australia bhps petroleum unit which the miner has agreed to sell to australias woodside petroleum ltd in an allstock deal posted a 3 yearonyear increase to 275 million barrels of oil equivalent that was also 2 higher than the quarter immediately prior bhp which runs the worlds biggest steelmaking coal export operations in joint venture with mitsubishi corp said its production of metallurgical coal was down 9 yearonyear and 25 quarteronquarter to 89 million tons also in large part because of maintenance work