Australian miner BHP Billiton has announced its production results for the financial year ended June 30, 2012.
In the full year, BHP Billiton produced 159.47 million mt of iron ore, up 19 percent compared to the previous year, while it produced 40.9 million mt of iron ore in the June quarter alone, increasing by 15 percent compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Western Australia iron ore shipments rose to a record annualized rate of 179 million mt in the June quarter. Western Australia iron ore production in the financial year 2012-13 is forecast to increase by approximately five percent from the financial year 2011-12.
In the financial year 2011-12, BHP produced 33.23 million mt of metallurgical coal, up two percent year on year. According to the company statement, in the June quarter the metallurgical coal output amounted to 8.1 million mt, up two percent year on year, while Queensland coal volumes remained constrained largely as a result of industrial action.
BHP Billiton also announced the indefinite closure of the Norwich Park mine in Australia during the June quarter following a review of the mine's profitability. On the other hand, in July force majeure was lifted across all the coal mines in Bowen Basin, Queensland.