Mining giant BHP Billiton has posted healthy increases to its iron ore and petroleum production in the first quarter of the financial year, despite an overall fall in base metal output.

 

Iron ore production increased thanks to the completion of the Rapid Growth Project 5, which allowed the company to fully utilize the increases to the inner harbour capacity at Port Headland.

 

The company posted a total iron ore output of 39.57 million tonnes in the quarter ending in September, 24 per cent up from the same period last year.

 

The company also recorded a total of 51.4 million barrels of oil equivalent, up 19 per cent from the same time last year.

 

However, copper production fell 24 per cent from the same time last year.

 

BHP Billiton’s quarterly report can be found here