BHP's copper, nickel output rises

BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, said the third-quarter output of copper, iron ore and nickel have risen, taking it toward record annual production of its biggest mineral products.

Copper output climbed 22 per cent to 357,600 tonnes in the three months ended March 31, from 293,600 tonnes a year earlier, Melbourne-based BHP said today in a statement. Petroleum product output rose 6 per cent, making the first increase in six quarters as it sold more natural gas. 
 

GOOD SHOW BHP Billiton output in '000 tonne
	Quarter ended
	Mar '06	Dec '06	Mar '07
Alumina	1075.00	1153.00	1085.00
Copper	293.60	300.70	357.60
Nickel	40.20	48.30	45.80
Iron ore	21128.00	25370.00	22884.00
Manganese ore	1226.00	1529.00	1452.00
Source: BHP Billiton

Production of seven of BHP's 19 commodities soared to all-time highs in the first nine months of the fiscal year as the price of iron ore climbed to a record and copper nears a high on rising imports by China. Iron ore output would have been higher if not for cyclones that swept Western Australia, BHP said today. "March is a seasonally weak quarter due to the weather predominantly, and the report was largely in line with our expectations,'' UBS analyst Glyn Lawcock said in a note to clients. "Oil and gas were generally ahead of our expectations.''

Shares of BHP Billiton rose 1 cent to A$30.01 at close of the Australian Stock Exchange in Sydney.