Australia miners BHP, Fortescue race to curb iron ore dependence

As Chinese demand shrinks, attention shifts to hydrogen and copper

20230915N australia iron ore ships REU

Australian resource producers are rushing to diversify as China's economic slowdown has sapped demand for the country's iron ore. © Reuters

RURIKA IMAHASHI, Nikkei staff writer

SYDNEY -- From Fortescue to BHP, Australia's top mining groups are accelerating efforts to diversify beyond iron ore with demand in China, their largest buyer, seen shrinking amid its economic slowdown.

"We're creating the green energy to replace fossil fuel -- designing green tech to enable real zero [emissions]," Fortescue Metals Group Executive Chairman Andrew Forrest said at a major business forum at the end of August.

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