On October 19, Australian miner BHP Billiton announced its production results for the quarter ended on September 30, 2011.
In the given period, BHP Billiton produced 39.57 million mt of iron ore, up 24 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Iron ore shipments from Western Australia rose to a record annualized rate of 173 million mt per year, up 28 percent year on year.
BHP produced 9.2 million mt of metallurgical coal in the September 2011 quarter, down 10 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. According to the company statement, Queensland coal volumes increased in the given quarter, as production continued to increase to pre-flood levels, despite stoppages due to ongoing labor negotiations.