Key highlights

  • Bauxite Hills shipped 659 thousand wet metric tonnes in September 2026, with year-to-date shipments of 4,013 thousand tonnes.
  • A sand-bank collapse cut the barging channel depth from 1.8 m to 1.3 m mid-month, limiting barging capacity.
  • Calendar year Volume guidance is under review.

Metro Mining Limited (ASX:MMI) released an operational update on 12 October 2026 for its Bauxite Hills Mine in Cape York, Far North Queensland. The company reported 659 thousand wet metric tonnes (WMT) shipped in September 2026, with year-to-date shipped volume of 4,013 thousand WMT.

Barging channel depth

Mid-month, a sand-bank collapse reduced the barging channel depth from 1.8 m to 1.3 m, limiting barging capacity. A channel maintenance bed-levelling campaign had already been scheduled and began in the first week of October. The company expects it to return the channel to normal approved depth within two weeks. Metro is also progressing feasibility studies to support approvals for a dredging program, in collaboration with government-owned port manager Ports North.

Mining operations

The mine plan required a ramp-up in stripped volumes in September. This coincided with increased absenteeism and staff turnover, so full utilisation of all equipment was not achieved. The company says measures have been implemented to address the issue.

Shipping equipment

The offshore floating terminal, Ikamba, is achieving planned availability and above-target loading rates of about 2,400 tonnes per hour. The floating crane TSA Skardon returned to site during the month after a dry dock maintenance program, providing additional transhipping back-up capacity when required.

About Bauxite Hills

Bauxite Hills is a 100%-owned mine on the Weipa bauxite plateau, about 95 km north of Weipa and near the coast on the Skardon River. It produces a high alumina bauxite that ships direct to customers in very large ore carriers. The company states it has agreements with the Traditional Owners of the land on which it operates.

Risks shareholders may weigh

The update identifies two operating constraints, channel depth and equipment utilisation, and states mitigations are still being implemented. Calendar year volume guidance is under review, and the company will provide an update as soon as possible if required. Dredging depends on approvals and feasibility work.

The announcement's forward-looking statements list risks including price fluctuations, demand, currency, environmental and physical risks, regulatory developments and approvals.

What's next

The bed-levelling campaign is expected to restore the channel to normal depth within two weeks of its early-October start. Metro will continue feasibility studies for dredging with Ports North and will update the market on volume guidance if a change is needed.