Fortescue has started the second half of the 2026 financial year (FY26) with a continued focus on safe operations, as solid safety outcomes supported a record first-half and shipping result across its iron ore business.
An ongoing emphasis on safety delivered a Leading Safety Index (LSI) of 160 and a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 1.5 for the 12 months to December 31, 2025.
The LSI tracks the presence of safety across the business by assigning positive scores to promoters and negative scores to detractors of safety, while TRIFR measures recordable injuries per million hours worked.
The safety performance underpinned strong operational outcomes, with total iron ore shipments reaching a record 100.2 million tonnes in the first half of FY26, three per cent higher than the same period last year. Second-quarter shipments totalled 50.5Mt, including 2.2Mt of Iron Bridge Concentrate.
“It was a record first half, with shipments reaching new highs across our operations. This was achieved safely and sets us up well heading into the second half to meet our FY26 shipments and cost guidance,” Fortescue metals and operations chief executive officer Dino Otranto said.
Safety remains central to Fortescue’s operating philosophy and is embedded within its code of conduct and integrity framework.
“Fortescue’s focus on safety empowers everyone to take whatever action is required to ensure our workplace is safe for all,” its code of conduct reads. “This includes pausing and taking time to assess a task to ensure it is safe before proceeding and ensuring your workplace is psychologically safe for everyone.”
Fortescue’s safety approach also extends to workplace behaviour and culture. During a 2022 pilot program with Rio Tinto, Otranto reinforced the company’s zero-tolerance position on sexual harassment, bullying and racism, a stance that continues to inform policies and leadership expectations across the business.
Alongside its core operations, Fortescue continued to progress its decarbonisation program, delivering its first large-scale battery energy storage system at North Star Junction and expanding its electric mobile equipment fleet.
Guidance for FY26 shipments, unit costs and capital expenditure remains unchanged as the company moves into the second half of the year.
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