Whitehaven Coal logs 2026 output at top end of guidance, sees costs at low end (updated)

Whitehaven Coal

28/07/2026 24:28

FY26 output 40.3 Mt Vs. forecast of 37 Mt to 41 Mt
Co sees 2026 unit cost of coal at A$132 per ton
Shares down 1.1%, in line with broader market
Updates throughout with more details, adds shares in last paragraph
July 28 (Reuters) - Australia's Whitehaven Coal WHC.AX said on Tuesday annual output and sales landed near the top of its guidance range as its Queensland mines recovered, while full-year costs were set to come in near the low end of forecast.
The cost outlook matters as the Sydney-based coal miner works to absorb higher diesel prices linked to the Middle East conflict.
Whitehaven said unit costs for 2026 were expected at about A$132 ($92.29) a metric ton, towards the low end of its forecast range, after it delivered savings within its annualised target of A$60 million to A$80 million. 
The company earned A$222 per ton of coal sold in the fourth quarter, up from A$189 a year earlier, helped by stronger Asian demand for thermal coal after liquefied natural gas supply was disrupted.        
Managed run-of-mine production was 40.3 million tons for the year ended June 30, up 3% from a year earlier and near the top of its 37 to 41 Mt guidance range. Managed coal sales rose 8% to 32.7 Mt, within estimates of 29.5 to 33 Mt.
Fourth-quarter output rose 1.3% to 10.7 Mt, matching the Visible Alpha consensus estimate.  
Queensland operations, including the Blackwater and Daunia mines bought from BHP Group in early 2024 in a $4.1 billion deal, recovered from prior-quarter weather disruption, with production up 41% sequentially.
The New South Wales mines, including Maules Creek, Narrabri and Gunnedah, posted a 1.6% year-on-year rise in quarterly production, though output fell 8% from the prior quarter because of tougher mining conditions.
Whitehaven shares were down 1.1% by 0058 GMT, in line with declines in the energy sub-index .AXEJ and the broader market .AXJO.

($1 = 1.4302 Australian dollars)

 (Reporting by Jasmeen Ara Shaikh and Keshav Singh Chundawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Subhranshu Sahu)
 ((Keshav.SinghChundawat@thomsonreuters.com;))