Global Iron Ore & Steel Forecast Conference Presentation BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered in England and Wales Share code: BIL ISIN: GB0000566504 Issued by: BHP Billiton Plc Date: 8 March 2016 To: London Stock Exchange JSE Limited For Release: Immediately Contact: Helen Ratsey +44 (0) 20 7802 7540 BHP Billiton Plc – Global Iron Ore & Steel Forecast Conference UK Listing Authority Submissions The following document has today been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at www.hemscott.com/nsm.do: • Global Iron Ore & Steel Forecast Conference Presentation The document may also be accessed via BHP Billiton’s website - www.bhpbilliton.com BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered in England and Wales Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1LH United Kingdom A member of the BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia Sponsor: UBS South Africa (Pty) Limited NEWS RELEASE Release Time IMMEDIATE Date 8 March 2016 Release Number 9/16 BUILDING ON PRODUCTIVITY LEADERSHIP AND A STRONG ASSET BASE BHP Billiton is meeting the challenges of the global iron ore market through a focus on productivity and a “relentless pursuit of the basics” in its Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) operations. In a key note address at this year’s Global Iron Ore and Steel Forecast Conference, Asset President WAIO, Edgar Basto, spoke to the global market dynamics affecting one of Australia’s most important exports. “Following a decade of strong growth driven by fixed assets investments, the Chinese economy is transitioning to a more consumer and services based model, with future growth likely to be inherently less steel intensive,” he said. “The Chinese Government’s steel industry restructure plans will take time to implement but it’s important to note a reduction in excess capacity will mean improved sustainability of the industry and our customers are likely to benefit from any consolidation.” Mr Basto reiterated that the mining industry would need to continue to meet the challenges of a lower price environment through productivity. “Our structured approach to safely increasing the availability, utilisation and rate of our existing infrastructure will support continued productivity improvements at WAIO,” he said. “We continue to increase our productivity in Port and Rail as we approach our targeted run rate of approximately 270 million tonnes per annum. This has been achieved through a range of measures such as the optimisation of our pit-to-port scheduling strategy and alignment of maintenance shutdowns across our mines, port and track.” Mr Basto said BHP Billiton’s new Operating Model would also support safe delivery of further productivity gains from WAIO’s Tier 1 asset base in the Pilbara. “Our productivity drive has supported an EBITDA margin of over 50 per cent at WAIO despite the iron ore price halving since 2012,” he said. "Through the new Operating Model we will deliver faster replication of leading practices and improved technologies across all of BHP Billiton's global operations as well as a major reduction in the costs of our functions." Mr Basto reinforced the Company’s commitment to Western Australia and its local communities. “WAIO remains a strong supporter of the communities in which we operate, having committed A$300 million over the past five years to health, education and Indigenous development programs and community infrastructure. “We are proud of the contribution we have made, and continue to make in WA. Despite the challenging market conditions faced by the industry, BHP Billiton is unwavering in its commitment to the State and our local communities.” Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: bhpbilliton.com Media Relations Investor Relations Australia and Asia Australia and Asia 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 Eleanor Colonico Andrew Gunn Tel: +61 3 9609 2360 Mobile +61 407 064 748 Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Mobile: +61 402 087 354 Email: Eleanor.Colonico@bhpbilliton.com email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com Paul Hitchins United Kingdom and South Africa Tel: +61 3 9609 2592 Mobile +61 419 315 001 Email: Paul.Hitchins@bhpbilliton.com Jonathan Price Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +44 7990 527 726 United Kingdom and South Africa email: Jonathan.H.Price@bhpbilliton.com Ruban Yogarajah Americas Tel: +44 207 802 4033 Mobile +44 7827 082 022 Email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com James Wear Tel: +1 212 310 1421 Mobile: +1 347 882 3011 Jennifer White email: James.Wear@bhpbilliton.com Tel : +44 207 802 7462 Mobile +44 7827 253 764 Email: Jennifer.White@bhpbilliton.com Joseph Suarez Tel: +1 212 310 1422 Mobile: +1 646 400 3803 North America email: Joseph.Suarez@bhpbilliton.com Jaryl Strong Tel: +1 713 499 5548 Mobile: +1 281 222 6627 email: Jaryl.Strong@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 18, 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 Follow us on social media Date: 08/03/2016 07:05:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. 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