12:43 PM EDT, 10/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- BHP Group's ( BHP ) Jimblebar iron ore inventories are piling up at Chinese ports, with stockpiles hitting a three-month high as contract talks stall with China Mineral Resources Group, or CMRG, the country's state-run iron ore buyer, Reuters reported Friday citing unnamed sources.

The stockpiles, about 2.6 million metric tons as of Oct. 14, have surged after CMRG told mills and traders last month to pause purchases, the report said.

CMRG, created in 2022 to centralize China's iron ore imports, is still negotiating BHP's 2026 supply terms, the report said.

"We are in commercial negotiations...we are not aware of an overall BHP product ban," a BHP spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report. The spokesperson also said that overall demand for iron ore remains "very healthy" due to solid steel production and "positive" margins.

BHP Group ( BHP ) and CMRG didn't immediately reply to MT Newswires' request for comments.

BHP shares were down 1.2% in recent trading.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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