
BHP Billiton has lifted its global iron production by nearly 10%, achieving a new record.
The miner said annual output of iron ore was 134.406 million tonnes for the financial 2010/11, an increase of 8% over its 2009/10 production levels, according to The West.
In its quarterly release, BHP said iron ore production quarter on quarter for 2011 was up by 7%, and 14% from the previous corresponding June period.
Copper took a hit, falling 6% from the June quarter of 2009/10, and remained flat in the March quarter.
Thermal coal production also rose by 5% year on year to 69.5 million tonnes, while BHP saw coking coal fall by 13% down to 32.678 million tonnes.
While it had an overall drop, and was down a massive 28% from the previous corresponding June quarter, coking coal did rise by 19% from the previous March quarter.