Australian producer Hancock plans to cut back production at its Roy Hill iron ore mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region, in a move to extend the mine's lifespan by a decade, the firm said on 17 June.
Mining activity would be reduced at Roy Hill mine, but it would maintain a production rate of over 63mn t/yr, the company said.
Roy Hill produced its first iron ore shipment in 2015 and has an expected lifespan of 20 years. The updated mine plan would extend its life by 10 years, maximise the amount of orebody it could turn into product, and reduce the amount of waste mined, Hancock subsidiary Hancock Iron Ore said. Hancock Iron Ore operates the mine, which was created following the merger of Atlas Iron and Roy Hill, both previously owned by Hancock.
Roy Hill shipped 61.6mn t of iron ore over its fiscal year to 30 June 2025 despite record rainfall in the Pilbara and major interruptions from tropical cyclone Zelia, the firm said in October 2025. Argus estimates Roy Hill shipped 66mn dwt of iron ore in the 2022 calendar year, 66.6mn dwt in 2023 and 63.7mn dwt in 2024.
Hancock Iron Ore is planning to process an additional 8mn t/yr of ore at Roy Hill from the McPhee Creek mine, with first ore previously expected in the 2026 financial year. This arrangement would also extend the life of the Roy Hill mine, it said.
