China's steel prices tumbled more than 5% to a five-month low as persistent worries over weaker demand pushed the sector into a bear market, sparking a selloff in raw materials iron ore and coking coal.
Over its almost 18-year mine life, Santo Domingo is expected to produce an average of 134-million pounds a year of copper, 4.2-million tonnes a year of iron concentrates and 17,000 annual ounces of gold.
BHP's maintenance work on its Port Hedland facilities, spare rail capacity and 40 ships waiting to be loaded means it will be able to make its production target for June 2018 - July 2019.