Australian miner BHP Billiton has announced its production results for the first half ended December 31 of the financial year 2017-18, achieving an iron ore output of 136 million mt from its Western Australian iron ore operations, remaining stable year on year. In the given period, record production at the company’s Jimblebar mine and Mining Area C was offset by the impact of lower opening stockpile levels following the fire at the screening plant of Mt Whaleback mine in June last year, and planned maintenance in the previous quarter. BHP Billiton’s sales volumes from its Western Australian iron ore operations in the half year ended December 31 amounted to 134.05 million mt, remaining almost stable compared to the same period of the previous year.
According to BHP Billiton, its Western Australian iron ore production forecast for the financial year 2017-18 remains at between 275 million mt and 280 million mt, with volumes weighted to the second half of the financial year as expected.
In the first half of the given year, BHP's metallurgical coal production decreased by four percent to 20.25 million mt, compared to the same period of the previous year. Guidance for metallurgical coal output in the 2017-18 financial year has been reduced to between 41 million mt and 43 million mt and reflects lower volumes now expected at the Broadmeadow and Blackwater mines due to geotechnical issues.