Australian miner BHP Billiton has announced its production results for the half year ended December 31, 2016, achieving an iron ore output of 136 million mt from its Western Australian iron ore operations, rising four percent year on year, as a result of the continued ramp-up of additional capacity at Jimblebar with the commissioning of a new primary crusher and additional conveying capacity. BHP Billiton’s sales volumes from its Western Australian iron ore operations in the half year ended December 31 amounted to 134.56 million mt, up 2.87 percent year on year.
According to BHP Billiton, its Western Australian iron ore production forecast for the financial year 2016-17 remains at between 265 million mt and 275 million mt.
In the first half of FY 2016-17, BHP's metallurgical coal production increased by one percent to 21 million mt, compared to the same period of the previous year. Guidance for metallurgical coal output in the 2016-17 financial year remains unchanged at 44 million mt.