Exploits there along with disappointments

The results of operations of BHP Billiton in the first half of its fiscal 2010 year, completed late December is not homogeneous. Exploits there along with disappointments. In the rank of the first iron ore, including flow increased by 6 on an annual basis, at 62.6 million tonnes. A volume never reached before. The increase in the capacity of its activities in Western Australia began to bear fruit. The Group expects 155 million tonnes of capacity full-year. Second strong point, petroleum products posted a bond of 17, to about 80 million barrels of oil equivalents. Main contributor: enlarged facilities of Shenzi in the United States, whose operation has not been affected by weather.

The assets of nickel and zinc production also recorded new records. The first saw their volumes fly 45 to 84.400 tonnes. They are still West Australian sites which have enabled this performance. For zinc, the good figures ( 33 to 106.260 tonnes in the last half of 2009) depend on a better quality ore extracted and the mines of Cannington, Australia, Antamina, the Peru. An unparalleled production previously also was entered in the fourth quarter in alumina material first grey metal. The expansion of the refinery of Alumar unit, the Brazil, which BHP Billiton owns 36 of the shares (54 returning to Alcoa and 10 to Rio Tinto), is responsible for.

Record for coal coke

However, at the forefront of the disappointments include copper and coal activity reports. Between July and December 2009, red metal deliveries dropped by 10, to 271.100 tonnes, due to the serious industrial accident in the Clark of the giant Australian Olympic Dam mine well and that has cost 20,000 tonnes of production, and strikes at the Chilean mine of Spence (-28,000 tonnes). The termination of the exploitation of the Pinto Valley, in the United States, has also affected the flow of copper. A contre-tendance, from the Escondida mine ore quality and return to normal operation from Laguna Seca downplayed the addition of the red metal.

BHP Billiton should also review the copy of coal. Coke, used in the blast of the mills, experienced a downturn in the volumes of 5 a year, less than 18.3 million tonnes, due to maintenance operations in the operations of the Australian Queensland to Illawarra in New South Wales. Despite this, the group reported sold record quantities of coal to coke in the second half of 2009. And by virtue "of improved demand conditions." On thermal coal, the decline was contained to 1 to 35.5 million tonnes. Maintenance and weather conditions are at the origin of this perfectible performance.

Recent setbacks, but less influential on the general development of the group, those of molybdenum (-65), the ore of manganese (-17) and natural uranium (-25). Nothing to report finally on the slopes of aluminum, the bi-annual production emerged without surprise in small increase of 1 over a year, to 626.000 tonnes. Analysts welcomed this battery of data by highlighting their uneven character. London yesterday, the action of BHP Billiton finished on a decrease of 3.61.