Metro Mining ships 700k WMT in July as waste stripping jumps 140%

Australian bauxite exploration and mining company Metro Mining shipped 700,000 wet metric tonnes (WMT) of bauxite from its Bauxite Hills Mine in Queensland in July 2026. Year-to-date waste stripping reached 1 million bank cubic metres (BCM), up 140 per cent year-on-year. The announcement, released in Metro Mining’s operational update, was approved by CEO and Managing Director, Simon Wensley.  

Metro Mining's July shipment volume stood at 700,000 WMT, despite a temporary interruption at its offshore floating terminal (OFT) Ikamba.

Compared with the June shipment volume of 779,000 tonnes, the July shipment volume records a 10.14 per cent month-on-month dip. As regards the annual comparison with the same period of the previous year, the July 2025 shipments amounted to 714,000 WMT, indicating a modest Y-o-Y dip of 1.96 per cent.

The terminal was taken offline on July 20 to replace four large hydraulic cylinders on Crane 1.

The Ikamba returned to service on July 27 and resumed full-capacity operations on July 30. During the maintenance period, Metro Mining deployed geared vessels to minimise the impact on its shipping schedule.

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Waste stripping jumps Y-o-Y, 2026 shipment guidance maintained

A key operational improvement came from waste removal. Metro Mining stripped 1 million BCM of waste YTD, representing a 140 per cent increase from the corresponding period a year earlier.

The company attributed the improvement to investments in additional equipment and productivity initiatives. Higher stripping volumes are strategically important as they support a more consistent flow of ore and enable the mine to sustain higher shipping rates.

Metro Mining has retained its calendar-year 2026 shipment guidance at 6.6–7.1 million WMT. The July operational performance and increased waste stripping provide the latest indicators of progress towards that range.

Overall, the July update points to stronger mine preparation and resilient shipping performance, with Metro Mining continuing to focus on maintaining ore availability and supporting its 2026 shipment target.

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