Strike at BHP's Port Hedland: First Major Walkout in 25 Years Could Disrupt Iron-Ore Supply
About 150 workers at BHP's Port Hedland export hub began a second day of strike action on Sunday, the first major industrial action at the site in 25 years, threatening daily shipments worth $80 million.
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Workers at BHP's iron-ore export hub in Port Hedland, Western Australia, entered a second day of strike action on Sunday, marking the first major industrial dispute at the world's largest iron-ore export port in a quarter of a century.
Around 150 employees, represented by the Combined BHP Ports Unions (CBPU), are involved in the walkout, according to a union spokesperson. The action began on Saturday at 5:30 a.m. local time (2130 GMT) with a 24-hour ship-loading halt, followed by a second stoppage starting at the same time on Sunday. The CBPU, which represents part of BHP's workforce of more than 800 at the port, is pushing for a new four-year bargaining agreement.
BHP, the world's third-largest iron-ore miner and based in Melbourne, ships approximately $80 million worth of iron ore through Port Hedland every day. The port accounted for 75% of iron-ore exports from the Pilbara region in the year to June 2026, underlining its critical role in global supply.
Despite the disruption, BHP said on Saturday that vessels continued to be loaded, with scheduled departures subject to normal port planning and tides. The company reaffirmed on Sunday that loading was still ongoing, but did not respond to requests for comment on the strike's broader impact.
The strike is not expected to affect rival miners Fortescue and Hancock Prospecting, which operate separate facilities in the region.
Negotiations between the parties are set to resume on August 18, following what both sides described as progress in talks on Tuesday, August 4. Workers are scheduled to return at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, August 10, ending the current round of action.
Industry analysts are watching the situation closely, as any prolonged disruption at Port Hedland could tighten global iron-ore supply and influence prices. The last major industrial action at the port occurred in 2000, making this a notable event in the region's mining history.