Australian miner BHP Billiton has announced its production results for the first nine months ended March 31 of the financial year 2016-17, achieving an iron ore output of 171.21 million mt from its Western Australian iron ore operations, rising three percent year on year, due to the successful completion of commissioning of a new primary crusher, additional conveying capacity at Jimblebar mine, ongoing progress on the rail renewal and maintenance program, and productivity improvements, which were partially offset by wet weather impacts in the March quarter. In the first nine months, BHP Billiton’s iron ore sales volume from its Western Australian iron ore operations rose by 2.41 percent year on year to 169.85 million mt.
BHP Billiton’s Western Australian iron ore production forecast for the financial year 2016-17 stands at 231-234 million mt.
In the first nine months ended March 31, BHP Billiton's metallurgical coal production rose by two percent to 31.27 million mt, compared to the same period of the previous year. However, as a result of damage to third party rail infrastructure caused by Cyclone Debbie in central Queensland, the company’s metallurgical coal production guidance for the full financial year has been reduced to between 39 million mt and 41 million mt from the previous guidance of 44 million mt.