Australian miner BHP Billiton has announced its production results for the second financial quarter ended on December 31, 2011.
In the given period, BHP Billiton produced 41.02 million mt of iron ore, up 22 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Iron ore shipments from Western Australia rose to a record annualized rate of 178 million mt per year, up 25 percent year on year. The full year production is expected to exceed the original guidance of 159 million mt.
BHP produced 8.4 million mt of metallurgical coal in the December 2011 quarter, up nine percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. According to the company statement, in the given quarter Queensland coal volumes remained below capacity as a result of stoppages due to ongoing labor negotiations and adverse weather conditions.