BHP has warned that “potential trade tensions” pose a risk to global economic growth after the world’s largest mining company cut its interim dividend to the lowest level in eight years because of weak Chinese demand.

The iron ore mining giant is instead spending more money on developing new operations, focusing on in-demand commodities like copper and potash.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) has reported a lower-than-expected underlying profit for the first half of the 2025 fiscal year, with this coming in at US$5.1 billion – a fall of 23% compared to the first half of FY24.