Australian miner BHP Billiton has announced its production results for the first quarter ended September 30, 2014 of the financial year 2014-15, achieving a new quarterly record from its Western Australian iron ore operations with an iron ore output of 62 million mt, up 15 percent year on year as the ramp-up of Jimblebar continued ahead of schedule and the availability, utilization and rate of the company's integrated supply chain improved.
According to BHP Billiton, Western Australian iron ore production guidance for the given financial year remains unchanged at 245 million mt. The company will focus on reducing annual cash cost by $2.3 billion by the financial year 2016-17.
In the September quarter, BHP's metallurgical coal production increased by 25 percent year on year to a record 13 million mt. The company expects to increase metallurgical coal production in the financial year 2014-15 by four percent to 47 million mt.