"Atlas could move to suspend production at the higher cost Mt Webber and Abydos mines, leaving it to focus on its more profitable Wodgina deposit, some analysts said.
"I reckon you would see them shrink to about two to three million tonnes a year from Wodgina only," said a analyst who has covered Atlas since its inception in 2004 and did not want to be named. "Wodgina is the closest to Port Hedland, has reasonably better grade and would be the cheapest operation."