Exploring the megatrends shaping the future, celebrating a potash milestone in Canada, and reflecting on a career spanning over 20 years at BHP

In this edition of BHP Insights, we share insights on the global economy, financial markets, and commodity demand from Graham Slack, Vice President, Market Analysis and Economics, and highlight the people who are building what’s next for BHP.

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Resilience amid uncertainty and enduring demand over time. Graham Slack, Vice President, Market Analysis and Economics, shares his insights on demand for key BHP commodities 

Graham Slack joined BHP in February 2025 as Vice President, Market Analysis and Economics. Graham and his team prepare the highly regarded BHP Economic and Commodity Outlook reports and BHP’s proprietary views on the global economy, financial markets, and resource demand.

"This year marks my first Economic and Commodity Outlook with BHP and I’m proud to share it with you. The outlook offers a take on demand in a changing market, explores the megatrends shaping our future, and provides a deep dive into the commodities that matter most to BHP. What I brought into this year’s outlook is shaped by years working across government, finance and maritime – and a strong belief that insight is only valuable when it’s accessible." - Graham Slack, Vice President, Market Analysis and Economics, BHP.

The external environment in Fiscal Year 2025 was dominated by policy uncertainty, with tariffs, fiscal, monetary and industrial policy, shaping investment and trade flows. Despite these dynamics, demand for BHP’s commodities has been resilient and in the case of copper, demand has been higher than previously expected.

By 2050, the world’s population is expected to approach 10 billion, with more than half residing in Asia. This will require vast investments in housing, schools, hospitals, road and rail infrastructure and electrification, which are all resource intensive. Urbanisation and general population growth are expected to add around 2.5 billion people to the world’s cities, where steel and copper intensity is significantly higher than in rural areas. Copper’s role in wiring, plumbing and communications infrastructure makes it a critical enabler of this transition.

BHP’s portfolio is well aligned to these megatrends. Our focus on operational excellence, strong cash flows and disciplined capital allocation, as well as our world-class tier 1 assets, mean we are competitively placed to supply the commodities to meet demand over the long run.

Learn more in BHP's Economic and Commodity Outlook

Jansen potash mine celebrates completion of new production headframe 

Our Jansen potash mine reached a significant milestone in August with the safe completion and installation of its new production headframe. Standing over 50 metres tall - about the height of a 16-storey building - and weighing about 2,000 tonnes, this structure is a testament to Canadian engineering and collaboration. The majority of the steel was fabricated in Ontario and Oxbow, Saskatchewan before being transported to the Jansen site. The installation involved collaboration between BHP and our partners, Hatch , Bantrel Co. , Ledcor , and Mammoet , and a team of over 600 people.

With the production headframe in place, Jansen is advancing towards anticipated delivery of first production in mid 2027.

“The new production headframe gets us ready for critical structural and operational activities. Jansen is on the path to deliver Canadian potash to the world, and this is one of the largest structural achievements since the project began. Huge kudos to the incredible teams at Jansen for the precision, collaboration, and care they bring, every step of the way.” - Karina Gistelinck, BHP Asset President Potash.

Potash is a vital mineral for fertilisers and supports global food security, and Saskatchewan is a world-leading production region. The development of the Jansen mine showcases Canadian innovation, local partnerships, and the dedication of hundreds of skilled workers.

Learn more

Celebrating Bob Coutt’s career from Broadmeadow exploration to mining and the best change he’s seen is safety

For more than 20 years, Bob Coutt, Superintendent Geology Geotech Service, has worked at our Broadmeadow Mine in Queensland. Bob’s pride and passion shines through, as he reflects on his career as the longest serving member of the Broadmeadow team.

“My career began in 1993 working for BHP Coal doing gas testing on the Kianga (Moura) project. After that, I moved up to Moranbah with my future wife and worked on a range of projects as a contractor. In 1996, I became a permanent employee with BHP. It’s been nice to take a mine from exploration stage right through to operation. Since I started in 1993, one of the biggest changes I’ve noticed at BHP has been safety. There’s been massive improvements and changes in safety over those years.”

As we mark BHP’s 140th anniversary, we celebrate our talented people all over the world who continue to drive our future.

Join us