Wrap Text
Operational Review for the Half Year Ended 31 December 2014
BHP Billiton Plc
Registration number 3196209
Registered in England and Wales
Share code: BIL
ISIN: GB0000566504
NEWS RELEASE
Release Time IMMEDIATE
Date 21 January 2015
Number 1/15
BHP BILLITON OPERATIONAL REVIEW FOR THE HALF YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014
-Group production increased by 9% during the December 2014 half year with records achieved for
eight operations and five commodities. Production guidance remains unchanged and we are on track
to deliver Group production growth of 16% over the two years to the end of the 2015 financial year.
- Metallurgical coal production increased by 21% to 26 Mt in the December 2014 half year as
Queensland Coal and Illawarra Coal both achieved record half year volumes.
- Western Australia Iron Ore production increased by 15% to a record of 124 Mt (100% basis) in the
December 2014 half year as the ramp-up of Jimblebar continued and we improved the availability,
utilisation and rate of our integrated supply chain.
- Petroleum production increased by 9% to a record 131 MMboe in the December 2014 half year
supported by a 71% increase in Onshore US liquids volumes to 24.4 MMboe.
- Copper production (1) decreased by 2% to 813 kt as strong underlying operating performance across
the business was offset by lower grades at Antamina.
- Record manganese ore and alumina production was underpinned by strong performances at both
Hotazel and the Alumar refinery.
BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Mackenzie, said: “Our operational performance over the
last six months has been strong. We are reducing costs and improving both operating and capital
productivity across the Group faster than originally planned. These improvements will help mitigate some
of the impact of lower commodity prices and we remain alert to opportunities to further increase free
cash flow.
“In Petroleum, we have moved quickly in response to lower prices and will reduce the number of rigs we
operate in our Onshore US business by approximately 40 per cent by the end of this financial year. The
revised drilling program will benefit from significant improvements in drilling and completions efficiency.
Our ongoing shale investment program will remain focused on our liquids-rich Black Hawk acreage.
However, we will keep this activity under review and make further changes if we believe deferring
development will create more value than near-term production.
“We continue to believe that our planned demerger will help support further improvements in operating
performance in both the core BHP Billiton and South32 assets. Within BHP Billiton, it would allow us to
identify and deploy best practice across our assets more quickly and simplify our organisation to reduce
overheads. We are making good progress towards securing the approvals we require to put the proposal
to a shareholder vote in May and remain on track to complete the process before the end of the financial
year.”
Operational performance summary
Production for the December 2014 half year and quarter is summarised in the table below.
DEC DEC DEC H14 DEC Q14 DEC Q14
2014 2014 vs vs vs
Production HALF QTR DEC H13 DEC Q13 SEP Q14
Total petroleum production (MMboe) 131.0 63.6 9% 10% (6%)
Copper (kt) 813.1 423.7 (4%) (4%) 9%
Iron ore (kt) 113,443 56,352 16% 16% (1%)
Metallurgical coal (kt) 26,307 13,538 21% 17% 6%
Energy coal (kt) 36,459 18,622 (3%) 5% 4%
Alumina (kt) 2,633 1,398 1% 3% 13%
Aluminium (kt) 517 256 (16%) (15%) (2%)
Manganese ores (kt) 4,555 2,296 7% 4% 2%
Manganese alloys (kt) 372 201 23% 21% 18%
Nickel (kt) 69.9 34.2 (11%) (10%) (4%)
Production guidance for the 2015 financial year is summarised in the table below.
Production guidance FY14 FY15e % change
Petroleum (MMboe) (2) 243 255 5%
Copper (Mt) (1) 1.7 1.8 5%
Iron ore (Mt) 204 225 11%
Metallurgical coal (Mt) 45 47 4%
Energy coal (Mt) 73 73 -
Major development projects
The Escondida Oxide Leach Area Project was successfully completed during the December 2014
quarter and the BMA Hay Point Stage Three Expansion project loaded first coal on 12 January 2015,
both on revised schedule and budget. The Escondida Oxide Leach Area Project will not be reported in
future Operational Reviews.
At the end of the December 2014 half year, BHP Billiton had seven major projects under development
with a combined budget of US$13.5 billion.
Corporate update
On 8 December 2014, BHP Billiton announced that the new company it intends to create through its
proposed demerger will be called South32. A final Board decision on the proposed demerger will be
made once all necessary third party approvals are secured on satisfactory terms. On this basis, BHP
Billiton expects to release all shareholder documentation with full details of the proposed demerger in
mid-March 2015, with a shareholder vote taking place in early May 2015. The demerger remains on
track to be completed in the first half of the 2015 calendar year.
BHP Billiton expects Underlying attributable profit in the December 2014 half year to include impairment
charges in the range of approximately US$200 million to US$250 million recognised as a result of the
divestment of conventional petroleum assets in North Louisiana and unconventional gas assets in the
Pecos field in the Permian.
Additional charges to be recognised in the December 2014
half year Underlying Underlying
(US$ million) EBIT (3) attributable profit (3)
Impairments 300 to 400 200 to 250
Total charges 300 to 400 200 to 250
The Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) in Australia has been repealed and was applicable until 30
September 2014. As a result, the MRRT deferred tax asset carried by the Group was derecognised and
an income tax charge of US$809 million will be reported as an exceptional item in the December 2014
half year. The Group’s adjusted effective tax rate (4) is expected to remain in the range of 30 per cent to
34 per cent in the December 2014 half year.
On 12 November 2014, BHP Billiton announced that the review of its Nickel West business was
complete and the preferred option, the sale of the business, was not achieved on an acceptable basis.
As a result of operational decisions made subsequent to the conclusion of this process, an impairment
charge in the range of US$200 million to US$350 million (after tax expense) will be recognised as an
exceptional item in the December 2014 half year. At this time, Nickel West remains in the BHP Billiton
portfolio and the Company continues to operate the business to maximise production, reduce operating
costs and increase free cash flow.
This guidance will be updated should material information or events arise as the Company finalises its
financial statements.
Marketing update
The average realised prices achieved for our major commodities are summarised in the table below. Iron
ore shipments, on average, were linked to the index price for the month of shipment, with price
differentials reflecting product quality. The majority of metallurgical coal and energy coal exports were
linked to the index price for the month of shipment or sold on the spot market, with price differentials
reflecting product quality.
DEC DEC JUN DEC H14 DEC H14 DEC H14
2014 2013 2014 vs vs vs
Average realised prices (5) HALF HALF HALF FY14 DEC H13 JUN H14 FY14
Oil (crude and condensate) (US$/bbl) 85 103 102 102 (17%) (17%) (17%)
Natural gas (US$/Mscf) (6) 4.21 3.81 4.89 4.35 10% (14%) (3%)
US natural gas (US$/Mscf) 3.89 3.44 4.75 4.10 13% (18%) (5%)
LNG (US$/Mscf) 13.76 14.63 14.71 14.67 (6%) (6%) (6%)
Copper (US$/lb) (7) 2.98 3.36 3.09 3.22 (11%) (4%) (7%)
Iron ore (US$/wmt, FOB) 70 112 96 103 (38%) (27%) (32%)
Hard coking coal (US$/t) 110 142 121 131 (23%) (9%) (16%)
Weak coking coal (US$/t) 92 116 104 111 (21%) (12%) (17%)
Thermal coal (US$/t) (8) 60 74 67 70 (19%) (10%) (14%)
Alumina (US$/t) (6) 330 291 320 307 13% 3% 7%
Aluminium (US$/t) 2,378 1,996 2,049 2,022 19% 16% 18%
Manganese ore (US$/dmtu) (6) 4.00 4.90 4.41 4.64 (18%) (9%) (14%)
Manganese alloy (US$/t) 946 952 1,001 980 (1%) (5%) (3%)
Nickel metal (US$/t) 16,757 13,615 16,391 14,925 23% 2% 12%
At 31 December 2014, the Group had 322 kt of outstanding copper sales that were revalued at a
weighted average price of US$2.87 per pound. The final price of these sales will be determined over the
remainder of the 2015 financial year. In addition, 350 kt of copper sales from the 2014 financial year
were subject to a finalisation adjustment in the current period. The provisional pricing and finalisation
adjustments will decrease earnings before interest and tax by US$210 million in the December 2014 half
year (December 2013 half year: US$196 million increase).
Petroleum and Potash
Production
DEC DEC DEC H14 DEC Q14 DEC Q14
2014 2014 vs vs vs
HALF QTR DEC H13 DEC Q13 SEP Q14
Crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids (MMboe) 62.1 31.2 24% 30% 1%
Natural gas (bcf) 413.3 194.4 (2%) (4%) (11%)
Total petroleum products (MMboe) 131.0 63.6 9% 10% (6%)
Total petroleum production – Total petroleum production increased by nine per cent in the December
2014 half year to a record 131.0 MMboe. Guidance for the 2015 financial year remains unchanged at
255 MMboe.
Crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids – Crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids
production increased by 24 per cent in the December 2014 half year to 62.1 MMboe.
Onshore US liquids volumes rose by 71 per cent in the December 2014 half year to a record
24.4 MMboe. This strong performance was underpinned by continued momentum in the Black Hawk and
Permian where liquids production increased by 81 per cent and 107 per cent, respectively.
In our Conventional business, liquids production at Pyrenees and Atlantis increased by 34 per cent and
12 per cent, respectively, supported by strong uptime performance and the completion of new production
wells in the second half of the 2014 financial year.
Natural gas – Natural gas production declined by two per cent in the December 2014 half year to 413
bcf.
Strong uptime performance at North West Shelf and Macedon partially offset lower seasonal demand at
Bass Strait and the divestment of Liverpool Bay which was completed in the 2014 financial year.
Projects
Capital Initial
Project and expenditure production
ownership (US$m) arget date Capacity Progress
North West Shelf 400 CY16 To maintain LNG plant On schedule and budget. The
Greater Western throughput from the North overall project is 85% complete.
Flank-A West Shelf operations.
(Australia)
16.67%
(non-operator)
Bass Strait Longford 520 CY16 Designed to process On schedule and budget. The
Gas Conditioning approximately 400 MMcf/d overall project is 45% complete.
Plant of high-CO2 gas.
(Australia)
50% (non-operator)
Onshore US development activity
Onshore US drilling and development expenditure totalled US$1.9 billion in the December 2014 half
year. In response to weaker prices, the Company will reduce its operated rig count from 26 at period end
to 16 by the end of the 2015 financial year. An update to the drilling and development expenditure
budget for the 2015 financial year will be provided with the release of our interim results in February
2015.
The majority of the revised drilling program will be focused on our liquids-rich Black Hawk acreage with
activity in the Permian and Hawkville limited to the retention of core acreage. The Company’s dry gas
development program will be reduced to one operated rig in the Haynesville, with a focus on continued
drilling and completions optimisation ahead of full field development.
The reduction in drilling activity will not impact 2015 financial year production guidance and we remain
confident that shale liquids volumes will rise by approximately 50 per cent in the period.
As announced in October 2014, we are actively marketing our Fayetteville acreage and will only pursue
a divestment if full value can be realised, consistent with our long-term outlook for gas prices.
December 2014 half year Liquids focused areas Gas focused areas
(December 2013 half year) Eagle Ford Permian Haynesville Fayetteville Total
Capital expenditure US$ billion 1.2 (1.6) 0.4 (0.2) 0.2 (0.2) 0.1 (0.1) 1.9 (2.1)
Rig allocation At period end 18 (18) 5 (2) 3 (5) 0 (0) 26 (25)
Net wells drilled and completed Period total 85 (154) 18 (18) 13 (17) 8 (49) 124 (238)
Net productive wells At period end 732 (544) 49(9) (46) 406(9) (879) 1,021 (1,000) 2,208 (2,469)
Capital expenditure includes land acquisition, site preparation, drilling, completions, well site facilities, mid-stream
infrastructure and pipelines. The number of wells drilled and completed can vary significantly from period to period
based on changes in rig activity and the inventory of wells drilled but not yet completed at period end.
Petroleum exploration
Exploration and appraisal wells drilled during the December 2014 quarter are summarised below.
BHP Billiton Water Total well
Well Location Target equity Spud date depth depth Status
Perseus-1 Gulf of Mexico Oil 15%(10) 21 September 1,401 m 7,036 m Plugged and
DC231 (Statoil operator) 2014 abandoned
Dry hole
Petroleum exploration expenditure for the December 2014 half year was US$268 million, of which
US$244 million was expensed. Total petroleum exploration expenditure for the 2015 financial year is
now forecast to be US$600 million, a 20 per cent reduction from prior guidance. The program will remain
focused on the Gulf of Mexico, Western Australia and Trinidad and Tobago.
The seismic acquisition program in Trinidad and Tobago was successfully completed for the seven deep
water blocks accessed between 2012 and 2014 (11). The acquisition for the two blocks awarded in the
2014 deep water bid round is progressing on schedule (12).
Potash
Project and Investment
ownership (US$m) Scope Progress
Jansen Potash 2,600 Investment to finish the excavation and lining of Shaft excavation continuing.
(Canada) the production and service shafts, and to continue The overall project is 39%
100% the installation of essential surface infrastructure complete and within approvrd
and utilities. budget.
Copper
Production
DEC DEC DEC H14 DEC Q14 DEC Q14
2014 2014 vs vs vs
HALF QTR DEC H13 DEC Q13 SEP Q14
Copper (kt) 813.1 423.7 (4%) (4%) 9%
Lead (t) 99,685 50,111 6% 5% 1%
Zinc (t) 73,973 33,310 20% 1% (18%)
Silver (troy koz) 16,688 7,620 (5%) (14%) (16%)
Uranium oxide concentrate (t) 1,942 1,076 (2%) 7% 24%
Copper – Total copper production (1) decreased by two per cent in the December 2014 half year to 813
kt. Guidance for the 2015 financial year remains unchanged at 1.8 Mt.
Escondida copper production decreased by two per cent in the December 2014 half year to 553 kt.
Strong operating performance, including a 14 per cent increase in truck utilisation, resulted in record
material mined for the period. This was offset by the impact of water restrictions during the December
2014 quarter, as anticipated, along with two days of industrial action and a power outage throughout
Northern Chile during the September 2014 quarter. Production guidance for Escondida remains
unchanged at 1.27 Mt of copper for the 2015 financial year.
Pampa Norte copper production increased by 22 per cent in the December 2014 half year to 125 kt as
Spence benefited from higher grades and recoveries. Production at Pampa Norte for the 2015 financial
year is expected to remain broadly unchanged from the prior year as higher grades and recoveries at
Spence continue to offset declining grades and recoveries at Cerro Colorado.
Olympic Dam copper production increased by four per cent in the December 2014 half year to 82 kt.
Production in the 2015 financial year is expected to remain broadly unchanged from the prior year with
planned smelter maintenance scheduled for the June 2015 quarter.
Antamina copper production declined by 37 per cent in the December 2014 half year to 53 kt as lower
grades more than offset record mill throughput. Average copper grades at Antamina for the remainder of
the 2015 financial year are expected to remain at a similar level to the December 2014 half year,
consistent with the mine plan.
Lead – Lead production increased by six per cent in the December 2014 half year supported by higher
mill throughput at Cannington and higher grades at Antamina.
Silver – Silver production decreased by five per cent in the December 2014 half year as higher mill
throughput at Antamina and Cannington was more than offset by lower average ore grades at both
operations, consistent with the mine plans.
Zinc – Zinc production increased by 20 per cent in the December 2014 half year and primarily reflected
higher grades at Antamina, consistent with the mine plan. Cannington achieved record zinc production
during the period underpinned by higher grades and increased mill throughput.
Uranium – Uranium production in the December 2014 half year was broadly unchanged from the prior period.
Projects
Capital Initial
Project and expenditure production
ownership (US$m) target date Capacity Progress
Escondida Oxide Leach 933 H2 CY14 New dynamic leaching pad First production achieved in Q4
Area Project (Chile) and mineral handling CY14 on revised schedule and
57.5% system. Maintains oxide budget. The project is 100%
leaching capacity. complete.
Escondida Organic 4,199 H1 CY15 New concentrator with 152 On schedule and revised
Growth Project 1 (Chile) ktpd capacity. budget. The overall project is
57.5% 94% complete.
Escondida Water 3,430 CY17 New desalination facility to On schedule and budget. The
Supply (Chile) ensure continued water overall project is 29% complete.
57.5% supply to Escondida.
Iron Ore
Production
DEC DEC DEC H14 DEC Q14 DEC Q14
2014 2014 vs vs vs
HALF QTR DEC H13 DEC Q13 SEP Q14
Iron ore (kt) 113,443 56,352 16% 16% (1%)
Iron ore – Total iron ore production increased by 16 per cent in the December 2014 half year to a record
113 Mt. Guidance for the 2015 financial year remains unchanged at 225 Mt.
Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) production increased by 15 per cent in the December 2014 half year
to a record 124 Mt (100 per cent basis) as the ramp-up of Jimblebar continued and we improved the
availability, utilisation and rate of our integrated supply chain. WAIO also achieved record sales volumes
of 126 Mt (100 per cent basis) in the December 2014 half year as our strategy of increasing the
percentage of direct to ship ore unlocks further port capacity.
Our WAIO business continues to perform strongly and we have retained guidance of 245 Mt (100 per
cent basis) for the 2015 financial year. Further growth in supply chain capacity to 270 Mtpa (100 per cent
basis) is expected to be achieved without the need for additional fixed plant investment. Beyond that, the
Inner Harbour Debottlenecking and Jimblebar Phase 2 projects (13) have the potential to increase total
capacity to 290 Mtpa (100 per cent basis) by the end of the 2017 financial year at very low capital cost.
Samarco production increased by 29 per cent in the December 2014 half year to a record 14 Mt (100 per
cent basis) as the ramp-up of the fourth pellet plant continues to plan.
Coal
Production
DEC DEC DEC H14 DEC Q14 DEC Q14
2014 2014 vs vs vs
HALF QTR DEC H13 DEC Q13 SEP Q14
Metallurgical coal (kt) 26,307 13,538 21% 17% 6%
Energy coal (kt) 36,459 18,622 (3%) 5% 4%
Metallurgical coal – Metallurgical coal production increased by 21 per cent in the December 2014 half
year to a record 26 Mt. Our metallurgical coal operations continue to perform strongly and we have
retained guidance of 47 Mt for the 2015 financial year ahead of the wet season and planned longwall
moves at the Crinum, Dendrobium and West Cliff underground mines.
Queensland Coal delivered record production and sales volumes primarily as a result of increased
equipment utilisation and the successful ramp-up of the Caval Ridge mine. Record production at
Goonyella, Daunia and Poitrel contributed to the strong result.
Illawarra Coal achieved record production of 4.7 Mt in the December 2014 half year as maintenance
efficiencies supported higher equipment utilisation rates. The 41 per cent increase from the December
2013 half year also reflects an extended outage at Dendrobium in the prior period.
Energy coal – Energy coal production decreased by three per cent in the December 2014 half year to
36 Mt. Guidance for the 2015 financial year remains unchanged at 73 Mt.
As anticipated, drought conditions constrained production volumes at Cerrejón given the need to
manage dust emissions, while Navajo Coal production declined following lower customer demand arising
from the closure of three of the five power units at the Four Corners Power Plant. New South Wales
Energy Coal production also declined as a result of processing lower yield material during the period and
an additional planned wash-plant outage. At South Africa Energy Coal, higher wash-plant utilisation
contributed to a 10 per cent increase from the December 2013 half year which was affected by industrial
action.
Projects
Capital Initial
Project and expenditure production
ownership (US$m) target date Capacity Progress
Hay Point Stage Three 1,505 (14) CY15 Increases port capacity from On revised schedule and
Expansion 44 Mtpa to 55 Mtpa and budget. The overall project is
(Australia) reduces storm vulnerability. 95% complete. First coal loaded
50% on 12 January 2015.
Appin Area 9 845 CY16 Maintains Illawarra Coal’s On schedule and budget. The
(Australia) production capacity with a overall project is 77% complete.
100% replacement mining domain
and capacity to produce 3.5
Mtpa of metallurgical coal.
Aluminium, Manganese and Nickel
Production
DEC DEC DEC H14 DEC Q14 DEC Q14
2014 2014 vs vs vs
HALF QTR DEC H13 DEC Q13 SEP Q14
Alumina (kt) 2,633 1,398 1% 3% 13%
Aluminium (kt) 517 256 (16%) (15%) (2%)
Manganese ores (kt) 4,555 2,296 7% 4% 2%
Manganese alloys (kt) 372 201 23% 21% 18%
Nickel (kt) 69.9 34.2 (11%) (10%) (4%)
Alumina – Alumina production was broadly unchanged in the December 2014 half year at 2.6 Mt and
included record production at the Alumar refinery. Worsley achieved record production in the December
2014 quarter as it recovered from a series of calciner outages in the prior period.
Aluminium – Aluminium production decreased by 16 per cent in the December 2014 half year to 517 kt.
Lower volumes primarily reflected the suspension of smelter capacity at Alumar and cessation of
smelting activities at Bayside during the 2014 financial year and more than offset record production at
Mozal in the December 2014 half year.
Manganese ores – Manganese ore production increased by seven per cent in the December 2014 half
year to a record 4.6 Mt as an improvement in ore recovery at Mamatwan and an increase in plant
availability at Wessels underpinned record production at Hotazel.
Manganese alloys – Manganese alloy production increased by 23 per cent in the December 2014 half
year, supported by increased smelter stability and availability at both TEMCO and Metalloys.
Nickel – Nickel production declined by 11 per cent in the December 2014 half year to 70 kt. Lower
volumes reflected the closure of the Perseverance underground mine at Nickel West in November 2013
and lower grades and recoveries at Cerro Matoso. Nickel West and Cerro Matoso production guidance
for the 2015 financial year remains unchanged at 95 kt and 43 kt, respectively.
As announced on 19 August 2014, in contemplation of the proposed demerger, BHP Billiton and Anglo
American have agreed to make certain changes to the agreement which governs their interests in the
Manganese business. Subject to obtaining the required approvals for the agreement, expected in the
second half of the 2015 financial year, the changes will result in BHP Billiton and Anglo American
agreeing to share joint control of the Manganese business.
Minerals exploration
Minerals exploration expenditure for the December 2014 half year was US$154 million, of which US$115
million was expensed. Greenfield minerals exploration is predominantly focused on advancing copper
targets within Chile, Peru and the South-West United States.
Variance analysis relates to the relative performance of BHP Billiton and/or its operations during the December 2014 half year
compared with the December 2013 half year, unless otherwise noted. Production volumes, sales volumes and capital and
exploration expenditure from subsidiaries (which include Escondida, Jimblebar, BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal and our manganese
operations) are reported on a 100 per cent basis; production volumes, sales volumes and capital and exploration expenditure
from equity accounted investments (which include Antamina, Samarco and Cerrejón) and other operations are reported on a
proportionate consolidation basis.
The following footnotes apply to this Operational Review:
(1) Excludes Pinto Valley which was sold during the 2014 financial year.
(2) Excludes Liverpool Bay which was sold during the 2014 financial year.
(3) Underlying attributable profit and Underlying EBIT are used to reflect the underlying performance of BHP
Billiton. Underlying attributable profit is Attributable profit excluding any exceptional items. Underlying EBIT is
earnings before net finance costs, taxation and any exceptional items.
(4) The Group’s adjusted effective tax rate excludes the influence of exchange rate movements, remeasurement
of deferred tax assets associated with the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) and exceptional items.
(5) Based on provisional, unaudited estimates. Prices exclude third party product and represent the weighted
average of various sales terms (for example: FOB, CIF and CFR), unless otherwise noted.
(6) Excludes internal sales.
(7) Includes third party product.
(8) Export sales only; excludes Cerrejón. Includes thermal coal sales from metallurgical coal mines.
(9) Change in productive well count includes the reduction associated with the divestments of North Louisiana
conventional assets (Haynesville) and Pecos unconventional gas assets (Permian).
(10) Well costs fully borne by partners.
(11) 17,687 square kilometres 3D seismic acquisition completed over Trinidad and Tobago Blocks 5, 6, 14, 23a,
23b, 28 and 29.
(12) 3,528 square kilometres 3D seismic acquisition in progress over Trinidad and Tobago Blocks 3 and 7.
(13) Subject to Board approval.
(14) Excludes announced pre-commitment funding.
The following abbreviations may have been used throughout this report: barrels (bbl); billion cubic feet (bcf); cost and freight
(CFR); cost, insurance and freight (CIF); dry metric tonne unit (dmtu); free on board (FOB); grams per tonne (g/t); kilograms per
tonne (kg/t); kilometre (km); metre (m); million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe); million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d); million
tonnes (Mt); million tonnes per annum (Mtpa); ounces (oz); pounds (lb); thousand barrels of oil equivalent (Mboe); thousand
ounces (koz); thousand standard cubic feet (Mscf); thousand tonnes (kt); thousand tonnes per annum (ktpa); thousand tonnes
per day (ktpd); tonnes (t); and wet metric tonnes (wmt).
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com.
Sponsor: Merrill Lynch South Africa Proprietary Limited
Media Relations Investor Relations
Australia Australia
Emily Perry Tara Dines
Tel: +61 3 9609 2800 Mobile: +61 477 325 803 Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: +61 499 249 005
email: Emily.Perry@bhpbilliton.com Email: Tara.Dines@bhpbilliton.com
Paul Hitchins Andrew Gunn
Tel: +61 3 9609 2592 Mobile: +61 419 315 001 Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Mobile: +61 402 087 354
email: Paul.Hitchins@bhpbilliton.com email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com
Eleanor Nichols United Kingdom and South Africa
Tel: +61 3 9609 2360 Mobile: +61 407 064 748
email: Eleanor.Nichols@bhpbilliton.com Jonathan Price
Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7990 527 726
United Kingdom Email: Jonathan.H.Price@bhpbilliton.com
Ruban Yogarajah Dean Simon
Tel: +44 20 7802 4033 Mobile: +44 7827 082 022 Tel: +44 20 7802 7461 Mobile: +44 7717 511 193
email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com email: Dean.Simon@bhpbilliton.com
Americas
Jennifer White
Tel: +44 20 7802 7462 Mobile: +44 7827 253 764
email:Jennifer.White@bhpbilliton.com James Agar
Tel: +1 212 310 1421 Mobile: +1 347 882 3011
email: James.Agar@bhpbilliton.com
Americas
Joseph Suarez
Ruban Yogarajah Tel: +1 212 310 1422 Mobile: +1 646 400 3803
Tel: +44 20 7802 4033 Mobile: +44 7827 082 022 email: Joseph.Suarez@bhpbilliton.com
email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com
BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Level 16, 171 Collins Street Registered Office: Neathouse Place
Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia London SW1V 1LH United Kingdom
Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015 Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111
Members of the BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia
BHP BILLITON PRODUCTION SUMMARY
QUARTER ENDED YEAR TO DATE % CHANGE
DEC DEC DEC
YTD14 Q14 Q14
DEC SEP DEC DEC DEC vs vs vs
2013 2014 2014 2014 2013 DEC DEC SEP
YTD13 Q13 Q14
Petroleum
Crude oil & condensate
and NGL (Mboe) 23,973 30,945 31,163 62,108 50,026 24% 30% 1%
Natural gas (bcf) 202.6 218.9 194.4 413.3 422.3 (2%) (4%) (11%)
Total petroleum products (MMboe) 57.7 67.4 63.6 131.0 120.4 9% 10% (6%)
Copper
Copper (kt) 439.9 389.4 423.7 813.1 843.2 (4%) (4%) 9%
Lead (t) 47,839 49,574 50,111 99,685 94,284 6% 5% 1%
Zinc (t) 32,855 40,663 33,310 73,973 61,410 20% 1% (18%)
Gold (troy oz) 45,655 52,344 51,247 103,591 85,843 21% 12% (2%)
Silver (troy koz) 8,850 9,068 7,620 16,688 17,538 (5%) (14%) (16%)
Uranium (t) 1,008 866 1,076 1,942 1,978 (2%) 7% 24%
Molybdenum (t) 379 40 75 115 837 (86%) (80%) 88%
Iron Ore
Iron Ore (kt) 48,688 57,091 56,352 113,443 97,641 16% 16% (1%)
Coal
Metallurgical coal (kt) 11,540 12,769 13,538 26,307 21,725 21% 17% 6%
Energy coal (kt) 17,767 17,837 18,622 36,459 37,406 (3%) 5% 4%
Aluminium, Manganese and Nickel
Alumina (kt) 1,352 1,235 1,398 2,633 2,603 1% 3% 13%
Aluminium (kt) 302 261 256 517 612 (16%) (15%) (2%)
Manganese ore (kt) 2,200 2,259 2,296 4,555 4,246 7% 4% 2%
Manganese alloys (kt) 166 171 201 372 303 23% 21% 18%
Nickel (kt) 37.8 35.7 34.2 69.9 78.2 (11%) (10%) (4%)
Throughout this report figures in italics indicate that this figure has been adjusted since it was previously reported.
BHP BILLITON PRODUCTION
QUARTER ENDED YEAR TO DATE
BHP
Billiton DEC MAR JUN SEP DEC DEC DEC
interest 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013
Petroleum
Production
Crude oil, condensate and NGL
(Mboe)(1)
Onshore US 6,533 8,575 10,540 11,460 12,905 24,365 14,233
Conventional 17,440 18,669 18,337 19,485 18,258 37,743 35,793
Total 23,973 27,244 28,877 30,945 31,163 62,108 50,026
Natural gas (bcf)
Onshore US 105.3 109.7 118.9 113.6 110.3 223.9 220.2
Conventional 97.3 92.3 96.1 105.3 84.1 189.4 202.1
Total 202.6 202.0 215.0 218.9 194.4 413.3 422.3
Total petroleum production
(MMboe) 57.7 60.9 64.7 67.4 63.6 131.0 120.4
Copper (2)
Copper
Payable metal in concentrate (kt)
Escondida (3) 57.5% 208.0 190.6 241.0 199.4 208.8 408.2 413.1
Antamina 33.8% 42.4 33.0 26.2 25.7 27.3 53.0 84.3
Pinto Valley (4) 100% 1.6 - - - - - 12.5
Total 252.0 223.6 267.2 225.1 236.1 461.2 509.9
Cathode (kt)
Escondida (3) 57.5% 77.5 75.8 81.5 69.3 75.0 144.3 150.7
Pampa Norte (5) 100% 59.4 63.4 66.8 55.8 69.6 125.4 102.9
Pinto Valley (4) 100% 0.1 - - - - - 0.9
Olympic Dam 100% 50.9 51.1 54.5 39.2 43.0 82.2 78.8
Total 187.9 190.3 202.8 164.3 187.6 351.9 333.3
Total copper 439.9 413.9 470.0 389.4 423.7 813.1 843.2
Lead
Payable metal in concentrate (t)
Cannington 100% 47,259 47,214 45,768 48,941 49,625 98,566 93,546
Antamina 33.8% 580 363 397 633 486 1,119 738
Total 47,839 47,577 46,165 49,574 50,111 99,685 94,284
Zinc
Payable metal in concentrate (t)
Cannington 100% 16,123 10,074 15,666 19,927 17,039 36,966 32,156
Antamina 33.8% 16,732 9,335 13,450 20,736 16,271 37,007 29,254
Total 32,855 19,409 29,116 40,663 33,310 73,973 61,410
Gold
Payable metal in concentrate (troy oz)
Escondida (3) 57.5% 19,384 20,110 20,920 21,980 12,710 34,690 31,874
Olympic Dam (refined gold) 100% 26,271 28,630 38,785 30,364 38,537 68,901 53,920
Pinto Valley (4) 100% - - - - - - 49
Total 45,655 48,740 59,705 52,344 51,247 103,591 85,843
Silver
Payable metal in concentrate (troy oz)
Escondida (3) 57.5% 982 1,078 1,320 1,159 958 2,117 1,873
Antamina 33.8% 1,350 961 843 954 885 1,839 2,555
Cannington 100% 6,306 6,465 6,029 6,701 5,534 12,235 12,667
Olympic Dam (refined silver) 100% 212 253 317 254 243 497 402
Pinto Valley (4) 100% - - - - - - 41
Total 8,850 8,757 8,509 9,068 7,620 16,688 17,538
Uranium
Payable metal in concentrate (t)
Olympic Dam 100% 1,008 966 1,044 866 1,076 1,942 1,978
Total 1,008 966 1,044 866 1,076 1,942 1,978
Molybdenum
Payable metal in concentrate (t)
Antamina 33.8% 379 281 83 40 75 115 837
Total 379 281 83 40 75 115 837
Iron Ore
Production (kt) (6)
Newman 85% 12,483 15,470 16,766 16,707 16,012 32,719 24,679
Yarrie 85% 428 206 - - - - 630
Area C Joint Venture 85% 11,383 11,282 12,481 13,265 11,314 24,579 23,197
Yandi Joint Venture 85% 17,135 15,622 17,615 16,607 17,694 34,301 35,281
Jimblebar (7) 85% 1,702 2,721 3,740 3,971 2,813 6,784 2,402
Wheelarra (8) 85% 2,716 1,698 2,973 3,115 4,755 7,870 5,882
Samarco 50% 2,841 2,281 3,068 3,426 3,764 7,190 5,570
Total 48,688 49,280 56,643 57,091 56,352 113,443 97,641
Coal
Metallurgical coal
Production (kt) (9)
BMA 50% 7,494 7,461 7,596 8,228 9,009 17,237 14,199
BHP Mitsui Coal (10) 80% 2,114 1,995 2,143 2,204 2,128 4,332 4,171
Illawarra 100% 1,932 2,011 2,147 2,337 2,401 4,738 3,355
Total 11,540 11,467 11,886 12,769 13,538 26,307 21,725
Energy Coal
Production (kt)
South Africa (11) 90% 7,036 7,398 8,013 8,026 8,499 16,525 14,973
USA 100% 2,896 2,359 2,412 2,690 2,512 5,202 6,041
Australia 100% 4,544 5,018 5,030 4,752 4,608 9,360 9,916
Colombia 33.3% 3,291 2,948 2,908 2,369 3,003 5,372 6,476
Total 17,767 17,723 18,363 17,837 18,622 36,459 37,406
Aluminum, Manganese and Nickel
Alumina
Saleable production (kt)
Worsley 86% 1,024 936 1,010 893 1,060 1,953 1,970
Alumar 36% 328 314 315 342 338 680 633
Total 1,352 1,250 1,325 1,235 1,398 2,633 2,603
Aluminium
Production (kt)
Hillside 100% 183 172 176 180 176 356 367
Bayside (12) 100% 24 23 18 - - - 48
Alumar 40% 28 26 15 13 13 26 63
Mozal 47.1% 67 65 67 68 67 135 134
Total 302 286 276 261 256 517 612
Manganese ores
Saleable production (kt)
South Africa (13) 44.4% 944 782 936 1,049 1,007 2,056 1,808
Australia (13) 60% 1,256 1,019 1,319 1,210 1,289 2,499 2,438
Total 2,200 1,801 2,255 2,259 2,296 4,555 4,246
Manganese alloys
Saleable production (kt)
South Africa (13)(14) 60% 94 91 106 112 121 233 180
Australia (13) 60% 72 71 75 59 80 139 123
Total 166 162 181 171 201 372 303
Nickel
Saleable production (kt)
Cerro Matoso 99.9% 12.3 9.8 10.2 10.7 10.5 21.2 24.3
Nickel West 100% 25.5 24.3 20.7 25.0 23.7 48.7 53.9
Total 37.8 34.1 30.9 35.7 34.2 69.9 78.2
(1) LPG and ethane are reported as natural gas liquids (NGL). Product-specific conversions are made and NGL is
reported in barrels of oil equivalent (boe). Total boe conversions are based on 6,000 scf of natural gas equals 1
boe.
(2) Metal production is reported on the basis of payable metal.
(3) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable production is 57.5%.
(4) BHP Billiton completed the sale of Pinto Valley on 11 October 2013.
(5) Includes Cerro Colorado and Spence.
(6) Iron ore production is reported on a wet tonnes basis.
(7) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable production is 85%.
(8) Production from Wheelarra is processed via the Jimblebar processing hub.
(9) Metallurgical coal production is reported on the basis of saleable product. Production figures include some
thermal coal.
(10) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable production is 80%.
(11) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable production is 90%.
(12) Aluminium smelting at Bayside ceased with the closure of the final potline in June 2014.
(13) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable production is 60%, except Hotazel Manganese Mines
which is 44.4%.
(14) Production includes Medium Carbon Ferro Manganese.
PRODUCTION AND SALES REPORT
QUARTER ENDED YEAR TO DATE
DEC MAR JUN SEP DEC DEC DEC
2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013
Petroleum
Crude oil, condensate
and NGL (Mboe)
Crude oil and
condensate
Bass Strait 1,958 2,095 2,355 2,818 2,284 5,102 4,205
North West Shelf 1,497 1,504 1,408 1,501 1,395 2,896 3,362
Stybarrow 317 282 255 225 248 473 665
Pyrenees 1,295 2,386 2,075 2,109 1,901 4,010 3,002
Other Australia (1) 12 11 14 17 11 28 26
Atlantis (2) 3,988 3,734 4,114 4,175 3,740 7,915 6,941
Mad Dog (2) 496 704 187 390 877 1,267 1,228
Shenzi (2) 3,201 3,467 3,530 3,530 3,502 7,032 6,668
Eagle Ford (3) 3,886 5,215 6,593 7,060 8,098 15,158 8,654
Permian (3) 341 356 463 601 807 1,408 602
Haynesville (3)(4) 11 18 13 16 4 20 26
Trinidad/Tobago 314 279 248 252 227 479 634
Other Americas (2)(5) 373 329 371 349 500 849 751
UK (6) 305 254 27 34 77 111 447
Algeria 1,156 1,069 996 1,011 1,050 2,061 2,298
Pakistan 52 49 37 38 33 71 114
Total 19,202 21,752 22,686 24,126 24,754 48,880 39,623
NGL
Bass Strait 1,603 1,621 2,026 2,161 1,512 3,673 3,604
North West Shelf 234 276 288 293 273 566 633
Atlantis (2) 348 288 111 248 294 542 603
Mad Dog (2) 24 36 39 21 42 63 62
Shenzi (2) 252 280 252 271 260 531 518
Eagle Ford (3) 2,009 2,775 3,179 3,421 3,638 7,059 4,524
Permian (3) 286 211 292 362 358 720 425
Haynesville (3) (4) - - - - - - 2
Other Americas (2) (5) 10 2 - 38 25 63 21
UK (6) 5 3 4 4 7 11 11
Total 4,771 5,492 6,191 6,819 6,409 13,228 10,403
Total crude oil,
condensate and NGL 23,973 27,244 28,877 30,945 31,163 62,108 50,026
Natural Gas (bcf)
Bass Strait 22.7 21.2 30.5 33.3 18.8 52.1 56.9
North West Shelf 30.3 31.4 31.8 36.9 33.4 70.3 64.5
Other Australia (1) 15.1 13.2 13.6 16.4 13.0 29.4 24.4
Atlantis (2) 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.7 2.3 4.0 3.1
Mad Dog (2) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2
Shenzi (2) 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.6 1.6
Eagle Ford (3) 22.0 23.9 30.8 28.5 26.3 54.8 48.2
Permian (3) 2.2 2.2 2.5 3.0 2.8 5.8 4.3
Haynesville (3) (4) 42.3 46.3 45.7 45.7 43.6 89.3 91.5
Fayetteville (3) 38.8 37.3 39.9 36.4 37.6 74.0 76.2
Trinidad/Tobago 9.7 9.3 9.1 8.8 7.8 16.6 19.6
Other Americas (2) (5) 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6
UK (6) 6.2 5.4 0.8 0.7 1.4 2.1 9.7
Pakistan 10.3 8.9 7.3 6.4 6.3 12.7 21.5
Total 202.6 202.0 215.0 218.9 194.4 413.3 422.3
Total Petroleum
production (MMboe) (7) 57.7 60.9 64.7 67.4 63.6 131.0 120.4
(1) Other Australia includes Minerva and Macedon.
(2) Gulf of Mexico volumes are net of royalties.
(3) Onshore US volumes are net of mineral holder royalties.
(4) Haynesville includes North Louisiana Conventional. BHP Billiton completed the sale of North Louisiana
Conventional on 17 November 2014.
(5) Other Americas includes Neptune, Genesis and Overriding Royalty Interest.
(6) UK includes Bruce/Keith and Liverpool Bay. BHP Billiton completed the sale of its 46.1% operated interest in
Liverpool Bay on 31 March 2014.
(7) Total boe conversions are based on 6,000 scf of natural gas equals 1 boe.
PRODUCTION AND SALES REPORT
QUARTER ENDED YEAR TO DATE
DEC MAR JUN SEP DEC DEC DEC
2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013
Copper
Metals production is payable metal unless otherwise stated.
Escondida, Chile (1)
Material mined (kt) 93,814 96,420 94,673 101,920 113,522 215,442 187,558
Sulphide ore milled (kt) 19,584 21,051 21,438 20,651 18,354 39,005 37,860
Average copper grade (%) 1.30% 1.12% 1.33% 1.20% 1.45% 1.32% 1.33%
Production ex mill (kt) 214.4 195.5 235.6 205.5 215.5 421.0 425.0
Production
Payable copper (2) (kt) 208.0 190.6 241.0 199.4 208.8 408.2 413.1
Payable gold concentrate (troy oz) 19,384 20,110 20,920 21,980 12,710 34,690 31,874
Copper cathode (EW) (kt) 77.5 75.8 81.5 69.3 75.0 144.3 150.7
Payable silver concentrate (troy oz) 982 1,078 1,320 1,159 958 2,117 1,873
Sales
Payable copper (kt) 228.1 173.2 239.1 203.3 203.2 406.5 420.4
Payable gold concentrate (troy oz) 18,602 20,889 20,920 21,980 12,710 34,690 31,092
Copper cathode (EW) (kt) 86.7 76.4 83.3 64.1 79.8 143.9 149.7
Payable silver concentrate (troy koz) 1,076 1,046 1,320 1,159 958 2,117 1,912
(1) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable production is 57.5%.
(2) June 2014 quarter includes 4.3 kt of copper contained in ore sold to third parties.
Pampa Norte, Chile
Cerro Colorado
Material mined (kt) 17,487 15,939 17,087 15,517 16,124 31,641 33,258
Ore milled (kt) 4,501 4,508 4,016 4,189 4,446 8,635 8,662
Average copper grade (%) 0.76% 0.75% 0.76% 0.77% 0.70% 0.73% 0.77%
Production
Copper cathode (EW) (kt) 19.4 22.0 21.3 15.7 20.6 36.3 37.0
Sales
Copper cathode (EW) (kt) 17.6 12.4 28.7 20.0 21.0 41.0 34.9
Spence
Material mined (kt) 27,911 25,037 25,962 24,238 23,422 47,660 52,242
Ore milled (kt) 4,788 4,735 3,775 4,409 4,560 8,969 9,648
Average copper grade (%) 1.25% 1.23% 1.30% 1.33% 1.20% 1.26% 1.18%
Production
Copper cathode (EW) (kt) 40.0 41.4 45.5 40.1 49.0 89.1 65.9
Sales
Copper cathode (EW) (kt) 35.9 40.0 49.6 36.9 51.8 88.7 61.8
Antamina, Peru
Material mined (100%) (kt) 50,872 45,837 49,797 54,675 43,793 98,468 107,300
Sulphide ore milled (100%) (kt) 12,521 11,729 12,756 12,370 13,594 25,964 24,286
Average head grades
- Copper (%) 1.15% 1.00% 0.77% 0.81% 0.74% 0.77% 1.18%
- Zinc (%) 0.72% 0.54% 0.58% 0.84% 0.66% 0.75% 0.64%
Production
Payable copper (kt) 42.4 33.0 26.2 25.7 27.3 53.0 84.3
Payable zinc (t) 16,732 9,335 13,450 20,736 16,271 37,007 29,254
Payable silver (troy koz) 1,350 961 843 954 885 1,839 2,555
Payable lead (t) 580 363 397 633 486 1,119 738
Payable molybdenum (t) 379 281 83 40 75 115 837
Sales
Payable copper (kt) 44.5 30.2 26.5 26.3 29.8 56.1 85.8
Payable zinc (t) 18,397 10,158 14,527 12,912 21,459 34,371 34,520
Payable silver (troy koz) 1,367 910 893 896 1,026 1,922 2,870
Payable lead (t) 368 405 521 320 711 1,031 665
Payable molybdenum (t) 442 347 142 50 90 140 853
Cannington, Australia
Material mined (kt) 974 773 806 823 925 1,748 1,867
Ore milled (kt) 852 779 821 819 850 1,669 1,602
Average head grades
- Silver (g/t) 274 311 286 301 246 273 293
- Lead (%) 6.7% 7.3% 6.9% 7.1% 7.0% 7.0% 7.0%
- Zinc (%) 3.1% 2.4% 3.1% 3.8% 3.2% 3.5% 3.2%
Production
Payable silver (troy koz) 6,306 6,465 6,029 6,701 5,534 12,235 12,667
Payable lead (t) 47,259 47,214 45,768 48,941 49,625 98,566 93,546
Payable zinc (t) 16,123 10,074 15,666 19,927 17,039 36,966 32,156
Sales
Payable silver (koz) 6,548 6,127 5,641 7,084 5,631 12,715 14,392
Payable lead (t) 47,185 43,649 41,607 51,197 48,482 99,679 103,685
Payable zinc (t) 18,241 11,020 15,708 15,450 18,028 33,478 35,527
Olympic Dam, Australia
Material mined (1) (kt) 2,717 2,495 2,405 2,692 2,667 5,359 5,614
Ore milled (kt) 2,641 2,421 2,654 2,206 2,776 4,982 5,045
Average copper grade (%) 1.86% 1.90% 1.91% 1.97% 1.70% 1.82% 1.86%
Average uranium grade (kg/t) 0.52 0.54 0.51 0.61 0.52 0.56 0.52
Production
Copper cathode (ER) (kt) 47.6 48.4 51.3 36.9 39.9 76.8 73.5
Copper cathode (EW) (kt) 3.3 2.7 3.2 2.3 3.1 5.4 5.3
Uranium oxide concentrate (t) 1,008 966 1,044 866 1,076 1,942 1,978
Refined gold (troy oz) 26,271 28,630 38,785 30,364 38,537 68,901 53,920
Refined silver (troy koz) 212 253 317 254 243 497 402
Sales
Copper cathode (ER) (kt) 43.3 47.5 54.2 36.6 39.9 76.5 70.1
Copper cathode (EW) (kt) 2.8 2.5 3.0 2.5 3.1 5.6 4.9
Uranium oxide concentrate (t) 1,037 732 1,426 848 1,125 1,973 1,967
Refined gold (troy oz) 32,226 31,129 38,500 30,707 34,938 65,645 53,901
Refined silver (troy koz) 177 262 367 227 238 465 353
(1) Material mined refers to run of mine ore mined and hoisted.
PRODUCTION AND SALES REPORT
QUARTER ENDED YEAR TO DATE
DEC MAR JUN SEP DEC DEC DEC
2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013
Iron Ore
(kt)
Iron ore
Pilbara, Australia
Production (1)
Newman 12,483 15,470 16,766 16,707 16,012 32,719 24,679
Yarrie (2) 428 206 - - - - 630
Area C Joint Venture 11,383 11,282 12,481 13,265 11,314 24,579 23,197
Yandi Joint Venture 17,135 15,622 17,615 16,607 17,694 34,301 35,281
Jimblebar (3) 1,702 2,721 3,740 3,971 2,813 6,784 2,402
Wheelarra (4) 2,716 1,698 2,973 3,115 4,755 7,870 5,882
Total 45,847 46,999 53,575 53,665 52,588 106,253 92,071
Total production (100%) 53,638 54,812 62,369 62,436 61,371 123,807 107,896
Sales
Lump 9,996 11,230 11,572 12,766 12,661 25,427 20,288
Fines 35,756 35,880 40,834 41,633 41,185 82,818 71,039
Total 45,752 47,110 52,406 54,399 53,846 108,245 91,327
Total sales (100%) 53,808 55,018 61,015 63,303 62,848 126,151 107,369
(1) Iron ore production and sales are reported on a wet tonnes basis.
(2) Yarrie ceased production on 25 February 2014.
(3) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable production is 85%.
(4) Production from Wheelarra is processed via the Jimblebar processing hub.
Samarco, Brazil
Production (1) 2,841 2,281 3,068 3,426 3,764 7,190 5,570
Sales 3,025 2,036 3,077 3,303 4,151 7,454 5,701
(1) Iron ore production and sales are reported on a wet tonnes basis.
PRODUCTION AND SALES REPORT
QUARTER ENDED YEAR TO DATE
DEC MAR JUN SEP DEC DEC DEC
2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013
Coal
(kt)
Metallurgical coal
Queensland Coal
Production (1)
BMA
Blackwater 1,655 1,759 1,625 1,777 1,775 3,552 3,346
Goonyella 1,999 2,041 1,553 2,144 2,350 4,494 3,736
Peak Downs 1,201 1,314 1,282 1,144 1,235 2,379 2,313
Saraji 1,195 1,108 1,058 1,022 1,257 2,279 2,392
Gregory Joint Venture 850 654 997 808 994 1,802 1,314
Daunia 594 585 518 628 617 1,245 1,098
Caval Ridge - - 563 705 781 1,486 -
Total BMA 7,494 7,461 7,596 8,228 9,009 17,237 14,199
BHP Billiton Mitsui
Coal (2)
South Walker Creek 1,313 1,312 1,323 1,391 1,236 2,627 2,611
Poitrel 801 683 820 813 892 1,705 1,560
Total BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal 2,114 1,995 2,143 2,204 2,128 4,332 4,171
Total Queensland Coal 9,608 9,456 9,739 10,432 11,137 21,569 18,370
Sales
Coking coal 6,517 7,030 7,250 7,306 8,379 15,685 12,640
Weak coking coal 2,505 2,594 2,358 2,859 2,670 5,529 4,902
Thermal coal 271 122 134 43 171 214 431
Total 9,293 9,746 9,742 10,208 11,220 21,428 17,973
(1) Metallurgical coal production is reported on the basis of saleable product. Production figures include some
thermal coal.
(2) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable production is 80%.
Illawarra, Australia
Production (1) 1,932 2,011 2,147 2,337 2,401 4,738 3,355
Sales
Coking coal 1,495 1,581 1,761 1,617 1,830 3,447 2,579
Thermal coal 318 460 486 373 426 799 677
Total 1,813 2,041 2,247 1,990 2,256 4,246 3,256
(1) Metallurgical coal production is reported on the basis of saleable product. Production figures include some
thermal coal.
Energy coal
South Africa (1)
Production 7,036 7,398 8,013 8,026 8,499 16,525 14,973
Sales
Export 4,087 3,179 3,528 3,739 4,174 7,913 6,591
Local utility 3,811 3,478 4,498 4,367 4,650 9,017 8,354
Inland - - - 36 84 120 -
Total 7,898 6,657 8,026 8,142 8,908 17,050 14,945
(1) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable product is 90%.
New Mexico, USA
Production
Navajo Coal(1) 1,400 975 1,082 1,243 1,064 2,307 3,070
San Juan Coal 1,496 1,384 1,330 1,447 1,448 2,895 2,971
Total 2,896 2,359 2,412 2,690 2,512 5,202 6,041
Sales - local utility 2,950 2,360 2,382 2,723 2,592 5,315 6,079
(1) BHP Billiton completed the scale of Navajo Mine on 30 December 2013. As BHP Billiton will retain control of the
mine until full consideration is received, production will continue to be reported by the Group.
NSW Energy Coal, Australia
Production 4,544 5,018 5,030 4,752 4,608 9,360 9,916
Sales
Export 4,887 4,346 4,548 4,787 4,625 9,412 8,924
Inland 332 270 333 371 228 599 778
Total 5,219 4,616 4,881 5,158 4,853 10,011 9,702
Cerrejón, Colombia
Production 3,291 2,948 2,908 2,369 3,003 5,372 6,476
Sales - export 3,067 2,647 2,858 3,077 2,732 5,809 6,222
PRODUCTION AND SALES REPORT
QUARTER ENDED YEAR TO DATE
DEC MAR JUN SEP DEC DEC DEC
2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013
Aluminium, Manganese and Nickel
(kt)
Alumina
Saleable
production
Worsley, Australia 1,024 936 1,010 893 1,060 1,953 1,970
Alumar, Brazil 328 314 315 342 338 680 633
Total 1,352 1,250 1,325 1,235 1,398 2,633 2,603
Sales
Worsley, Australia 961 986 1,020 875 1,068 1,943 1,858
Alumar, Brazil 320 262 388 323 371 694 598
Total 1,281 1,248 1,408 1,198 1,439 2,637 2,456
Aluminium
Production
Hillside, South Africa 183 172 176 180 176 356 367
Bayside, South Africa (1) 24 23 18 - - - 48
Alumar, Brazil 28 26 15 13 13 26 63
Mozal, Mozambique 67 65 67 68 67 135 134
Total 302 286 276 261 256 517 612
Sales
Hillside, South Africa 173 187 168 174 178 352 353
Bayside, South Africa (1) 24 24 24 - - - 48
Alumar, Brazil 28 25 17 12 13 25 62
Mozal, Mozambique 74 72 62 64 73 137 142
Total 299 308 271 250 264 514 605
(1) Aluminium smelting at Bayside ceased with the closure of the final potline in June 2014.
Manganese ores
Saleable
production
South Africa (1) 944 782 936 1,049 1,007 2,056 1,808
Australia (1) 1,256 1,019 1,319 1,210 1,289 2,499 2,438
Total 2,200 1,801 2,255 2,259 2,296 4,555 4,246
Sales
South Africa (1) 714 915 931 999 983 1,982 1,634
Australia (1) 1,445 1,252 1,288 1,224 1,208 2,432 2,523
Total 2,159 2,167 2,219 2,223 2,191 4,414 4,157
Manganese alloys
Saleable
production
South Africa (1) (2) 94 91 106 112 121 233 180
Australia (1) 72 71 75 59 80 139 123
Total 166 162 181 171 201 372 303
Sales
South Africa (1) (2) 87 113 112 115 109 224 175
Australia (1) 63 85 74 56 73 129 117
Total 150 198 186 171 182 353 292
(1) Shown on 100% basis. BHP Billiton interest in saleable production is 60%, except Hotazel Manganese Mines
which is 44.4%.
(2) Production includes Medium Carbon Ferro Manganese.
Nickel
Cerro Matoso,
Colombia
Production 12.3 9.8 10.2 10.7 10.5 21.2 24.3
Sales 12.3 10.0 10.2 10.5 10.1 20.6 24.9
Nickel West, Australia
Saleable production
Nickel contained in
concentrate 2.4 2.5 1.6 2.2 1.7 3.9 5.8
Nickel contained in
finished matte 6.1 6.1 4.4 9.1 5.5 14.6 14.9
Nickel metal 17.0 15.7 14.7 13.7 16.5 30.2 33.2
Nickel production 25.5 24.3 20.7 25.0 23.7 48.7 53.9
Sales
Nickel contained in
concentrate 2.8 2.3 1.6 2.1 1.6 3.7 5.5
Nickel contained in
finished matte 7.4 5.3 6.2 6.6 7.4 14.0 15.2
Nickel metal 17.2 16.7 14.4 11.9 17.5 29.4 32.5
Nickel sales 27.4 24.3 22.2 20.6 26.5 47.1 53.2
Date: 21/01/2015 07:05:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
information disseminated through SENS.