Australian miner BHP Billiton has announced its production results for the quarter year ended September 30, 2012.
In the given quarter, BHP Billiton produced 39.77 million mt of iron ore, up one percent compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Western Australia iron ore operations sustained a strong performance during the quarter in question despite the impact of a planned shutdown associated with the Inner Harbour expansion project at Port Hedland. Western Australia iron ore production guidance remains unchanged with a five percent increase anticipated in the financial year 2012-2013.
In the September quarter, BHP produced 8.93 million mt of metallurgical coal, down four percent year on year. According to the company statement, in the same period Queensland coal volumes increased by 20 percent, while a planned longwall move at the Appin mine led to lower production at Illawarra Coal during the quarter.