Cyclones hit BHP's iron ore output

The world's largest mining company BHP Billiton disclosed that its third-quarter iron ore output fell 5 percent due to the cyclones, higher than usual rainfall in Pilbara and maintenance work at Area C. Iron ore output fell from 23.8 million metric tons a year ago to 22.499 million metric tons in the three months ended March 31. Production of petroleum products, zinc, coking and thermal coal also declined. Due to the five tropical cyclones over the November to April season in Western Australia, leading BHP and Rio Tinto, the world's third-largest mining company, slowed down their production.