BHP - 1st Qtr Profit $715m

Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ld
2 November 2000


BHP ANNOUNCES $715 MILLION RECORD QUARTER PROFIT

BHP Limited today announced a record quarterly profit of $715 million (after
tax), an increase of 34 per cent or $181 million compared to the corresponding
quarter ended 30 September 1999.

BHP Managing Director and CEO Paul Anderson said: 'The financial result is
encouraging and reflects our determination to optimise the operating
performance of each of our businesses in order to fully capture the benefits
of improved commodity prices.

'Significantly, we also progressed a number of major strategic objectives
including the acquisition of QCT Resources Limited through our partnership
with Mitsubishi Development Pty.Ltd., the spin-out of OneSteel Limited and
opening of our new Shared Business Services centre in Adelaide, South
Australia.

'We also committed to the US$1.0 billion Ohanet gas/condensate development in
Algeria, announced development of the San Juan underground coal mine in New
Mexico and reached agreement with Falconbridge Limited on the formation of a
joint venture that may lead to development of the Gag nickel laterite project
in Indonesia.'

The result for the first quarter included a net profit impact from higher
prices of $240 million compared to the corresponding quarter ended 30
September 1999 including significantly higher oil prices and improved copper,
steel and iron ore prices.

Mr Anderson said: 'However we cannot afford to adopt a 'boom and bust'
mentality. Volatility is a characteristic of our businesses.  We manage this
through a continued focus on improving the fundamental performance of our
operations, utilising our diversity to reduce risk and maintaining a prudent
capital structure. Peaks and troughs come and go, but we must continue to
manage for the longer term.'

Exchange rate movements, net of hedging, positively impacted the quarter
result by $100 million compared to the corresponding period. Additionally the
contribution from new operations was a net positive impact of  $45 million
compared to the quarter ended 30 September 1999 with profits from new
Petroleum operations partly offset by losses from the Western Australia and
Venezuela HBI plants. 

Mr Anderson said: 'As previously announced, we will consider the future of the
Western Australia HBI plant at the end of this calendar year. Although we have
made significant inroads with regard to the technical process, the commercial
viability of this operation is yet to be demonstrated.'

Lower volumes negatively impacted the result by $45 million reflecting lower
petroleum sales due to the natural decline of the Bass Strait oil field and
lower copper sales volumes due to the timing of copper concentrate shipments
at Escondida and Ok Tedi.

Mr Anderson said: 'Implementation of major business improvement programs such
as the establishment of Shared Business Services and e-commerce purchasing
will continue to increase our cost base'
 

Nb: The BHP Board also announced an unfranked dividend of 25 cents per share
to be paid on 6 December 2000.

Further information can be found on our internet site: http://www.bhp.com 

Contact:
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Mandy Frostick, Manager Media Relations       
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INVESTOR RELATIONS
Robert Porter, Vice President Investor Relations
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