Teck said it could see its Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 expansion project in Chile delayed, at a cost of up to $290 million.

"It’s likely that miners will need to boost investment in local communities for some time as the full impact of covid-19 continues to play out."

BHP’s unsuccessful effort over the past year to offload the Mt Arthur coal mine highlights the predicament producers are in.

Overall production fell 18%, with diamonds, platinum, palladium, iron ore, coal and manganese all falling, while copper and nickel rose.