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BHP BILLITON PLC - Operational Review for the Half Year Ended 31 December 2014

Release Date: 21/01/2015 07:05
Code(s): BIL     PDF:  
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

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