Australian miner BHP Billiton has announced its production results for the fourth quarter ended December 31. The company produced 60 million mt of iron ore in the given period, rising by two percent year on year, while during the six months through December 2019 the miner’s iron ore output increased by four percent year on year to 121 million mt, due to record production at Jimblebar and the impact of the train derailment in the December 2018 half year.
In the fourth quarter, BHP Billiton's metallurgical coal production increased by six percent to 11 million mt, while in the six-month period the miner produced 20 million mt of metallurgical coal, down two percent, both year on year.
Meanwhile, BHP Billiton has kept its guidance unchanged both for iron ore and metallurgical coal production for the financial year 2019-20. Iron ore output is expected to stand at the range of 242-253 million mt, while the metallurgical coal guidance stands at 41-45 million mt.
