Image: BHP Chief Commercial Officer Vandita Pant with Baowu Group Chairman CHEN Derong
BHP has signed more than a dozen new agreements with Chinese iron ore, met coal and copper customers related to sales of its products at the China International Import Expo this week.
Chief Commercial Officer, Vandita Pant, attended the opening ceremony in Shanghai together with Australian Trade Minister, Simon Birmingham.
‘The Expo has become an important event to collaborate with Chinese customers to find new opportunities to create value together,’ Ms Pant said.
‘The new Memorandums of Understanding we’ve signed at the Expo further strengthen our long-term strategic partnerships with Chinese customers and are a demonstration of the continued interest in our products,’ Ms Pant said.
The agreements, signed with a range of leading Chinese customers, cover product sales and purchases, increasing cooperative partnerships and opportunities for sharing market views.
At the Expo last year, BHP signed MOUs for the potential Jansen potash offtake with Sinochem and CNAMPGC, the largest importers of potash into China.
‘We’re pleased to be here to support increased trade opportunities between China and BHP. We believe free trade is one of the most important drivers of global economic growth and development,’ Ms Pant said.
‘Through our strong and longstanding relationships with Chinese steel mills, energy companies and copper smelters, we are able to supply the raw materials China needs to continue its amazing development.
‘China is our largest customer market. More than half of our products are sold here.’
As a member of the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, part of the Expo’s opening day, BHP also launched a new brand campaign to increase awareness of the Company’s commercial and social contribution in China with customers, suppliers and the broader industry.
Organised and supported by China’s Ministry of Commerce, the China International Import Expo is the world’s first import-themed national-level expo.
President Xi delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Expo.
