BHP Manganese, Copper Capacity Back To Normal In March

BHP Billiton's manganese, copper production capacity will return to normal in March.
BHP stated that to satisfy the increasing demand, manganese ore production in the fourth quarter reached 1.54mln tons, up by 33% month on month, up by 9% over the same period last year, the total production for the second half of 2009 slipped by 17% year on year. In this quarter, the manganese alloy production is around 65%, the number of smelting furnaces to be resumed continuously increases with the recovery of demand, and it is expected that at the end of March, manganese ore can be produced with the full capacity. In the fourth quarter, manganese alloy yield was 131,000 tons, up by 108% than the third quarter, down by 28% than last year. In the second half year, the total production was 194,000 tons, gliding by 49% year on year.

As of copper, ClarkShaft transportation system broke for more than three months, BHP's wholly-owned lympicDam mine in Australia, remains 25% exploit ability. Currently, the repair of ClarkShaft is smoothly ongoing and it will be resumed in the first quarter. In the fourth quarter, copper production was 261,000 tons, plunging by 31% month on month, sliding by 45% year on year. Additionally, Chile's Spence mine produced 18,800 tons, down by 32%, sinking by 58% year on year. But because scondida strongly produced and LagunaSecaSAG produced with the full capacity after the overhaul, in the fourth quarter, BHP's copper production decreased by only 5%. In the second half year, the total copper production tumbled by 6% month on month to 555,000 tons, down by 10% year on year.

Besides, BHP's aluminum, nickel production is at the high level in the fourth quarter.

Alumar continued increasing production, in the fourth quarter, BHP's aluminum production went up by 12% than last quarter, up by 5% year on year. Alumina's output in the second half of 2009 was 1.78mln tons, up by 1% year on year, metal aluminum output was 62,300 tons, upwards by 1% year on year. Currently, Alumar's production rose to 3.6mln tons from 1.5mln tons per year, and it is predicted that it will operation with the full capacity by the end of June.

Driven by the increasing production of Australia's Kalgoorlie nickel mill, BHP's production in the fourth quarter moved up by 38% to 49,000 tons, up by 20% year on year. Nickel production for the second half year was 84,400 tons, up by 45% year on year.

BHP's lead production recovered 3% in the four quarter, hitting 63,073 tons, still down by 4% than the same period last year. The lead production for the half year was 124,433 tons, same as last year.

Its zinc output in the fourth quarter went up by 29% to 59,835 tons, up by 58% year on year. Its production for the half year was 106,260 tons, up by 33% year on year.

Source: Alibaba