Congressional hearings, tough action anticipated after U.S. coal mine disaster

South32 said in February it had agreed to sell the business in New South Wales state for $1.65 billion.

The company's Blackwater and Daunia mines in Queensland, which it recently purchased from BHP, produced 4.8 million tonnes.

China's imports of major commodities are often viewed through the prism of the performance of, and outlook for, the world's second-biggest economy.

The world's largest listed miner said iron ore output from Western Australia on a 100% basis was 76.8 million tonnes in the three months to June 30.