Fortescue shipped a record 201.3 million tonnes of iron ore in FY26, breaking the 200Mt mark for the first time on the back of a 52.7Mt June quarter from its Pilbara operations. The miner framed this “operational excellence” as the production base for its Real Zero pathway, integrating green energy initiatives across Western Australian sites rather than relying solely on offsets. For engineers, the scale and consistency of >50Mt/quarter output signal continued demand for high-availability haulage, processing and port infrastructure while low‑carbon power systems are phased in.

Artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance and real-time process monitoring are being deployed across copper mines to lift throughput and recoveries from existing concentrators rather than relying solely on new greenfield projects. Vendors showcased tools such as advanced analytics platforms that stabilise SAG and ball mill circuits in real time, and sensor suites that track crusher and conveyor health to schedule maintenance before critical failures. For geometallurgists and plant engineers, the shift is towards data-driven control loops and condition-based maintenance to squeeze extra tonnes from current ore bodies.

Anglo American and Teck Resources have named the joint executive leadership team for Anglo Teck, the merged copper, coal and iron ore group created via a merger of equals announced in September 2025, with the structure to take effect once the deal closes between September 2026 and March 2027. The line-up will steer integration of Teck’s steelmaking coal and copper assets with Anglo’s Quellaveco, Minas-Rio and De Beers portfolio, rationalising overlapping corporate functions. For miners and contractors, the combined procurement, project pipeline and technical standards are likely to reshape tendering and supplier strategies across the Americas and Southern Africa.