Australian miner BHP Billiton has announced its production results for the financial year 2014-15 ended June 30, 2015, achieving an iron ore output of 254 million mt from its Western Australian iron ore operations, rising 12.6 percent year on year representing a fifteenth consecutive annual record. The miner stated that the continued optimization of the port facilities and an increase in direct shipping ore resulted in record sales volumes of 256 million mt in the given period.
According to BHP Billiton, Western Australian iron ore production for the financial year 2015-16 is forecast to increase to 270 million mt, as a result of improved processing efficiency. Further productivity improvements are expected to contribute to an increase in system capacity to 290 million mt per year over time.
In the given financial year, BHP's metallurgical coal production increased by 13 percent year on year to 42.6 million mt. Production is forecast to decrease in the current financial year to 40 million mt as a result of the closure of Crinum mine. BHP Billiton expects to start production at the 1 million mt per year Haju mine in Indonesia during the financial year 2015-16.