[BHP reaches tentative deal to avert strike at Escondida]

Published: Oct 15, 2026 18:47 (GMT+8)

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BHP and the supervisors' union at Chile's Escondida mine have reached a preliminary agreement to avert a strike at the world's largest copper operation. Union No. 2 members vote online between 9:15 and 11:30 a.m. local time; if they reject the offer, the stoppage would start Thursday at 8:00 a.m. local. The deal followed last-minute talks after earlier contract negotiations failed. Strike risk had supported copper prices on supply concerns; ratification would remove one near-term threat. Yet Chile's industry faces mounting operational risks: a deadly landslide at Codelco's El Teniente halted an open-pit section. GEM Mining Consulting's October study put average output at risk at Chile's biggest copper mines at 5.2%, with El Teniente at 9%, Los Pelambres at 8% and Escondida at 7.5%.

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