BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) continues to ramp up iron ore shipments from Western Australia, with September quarter production 28% higher than the previous corresponding period - which equates to a record annualised rate of 173 million tonnes.
Petroleum production increased 19% in the period, reflecting the successful acquisition of the Fayetteville and Petrohawk Onshore US shale businesses on top of strong operating performance from existing assets.
Quarterly production records were also achieved at New South Wales Energy Coal and Illawarra Coal (both Australia), Cerrejon Coal (Colombia) and the Alumar refinery (Brazil). Record material mined and milling rates at Antamina (Peru) coincided with a significant improvement in copper grades.
Copper
Lower ore grades and industrial action at Escondida in Chile, planned maintenance activity at Pampa Norte (Chile) and planned smelter and refinery outages at Olympic Dam (Australia) all impacted copper production in the period.
Record material mined and milling rates were, however, achieved at Antamina and coincided with operations progressing through a copper rich ore zone.
Due to industrial action that impacted operations in the September 2011 quarter, Escondida production is now expected to be marginally lower in the 2012 financial year with volumes weighted to the second half.
Production is expected to improve beyond the 2012 financial year as mining activities progress towards higher grade ore with completion of the Escondida Ore Access project in the main pit.
Lead/zinc/silver
A broad decline in average ore grades across the Antamina and Cannington (Australia) operations resulted in lower production relative to all comparable periods.
Uranium
The steady grade profile of the Olympic Dam ore body was further illustrated by the consistent production performance of the uranium circuit.