Director Shareholding

BHP Billiton Limited
21 July 2004

     BHP Billiton Limited is issuing this announcement to fulfil disclosure
  obligations arising from its secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.

    The text of this release is identical to that issued by BHP Billiton Plc
                                    earlier.


Issued by:      BHP Billiton Plc

To:
London Stock Exchange
Johannesburg Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange

Date:             20 July 2004

For Release:      Immediately

Contact:          Elizabeth Hobley - [phone]



                     Notification of interests of directors



BHP Billiton Plc announces the following transaction made by Billiton ESOP
Trustee Limited, as trustee of the Billiton Employee Share Ownership Trust, in
Ordinary shares of US$0.50 in BHP Billiton Plc.


Date of          Type of            Number of      Price per       Date
Transaction      Transaction        Shares         Share           Notified

19 July 2004     Sale               30,455         £4.96           20 July 2004

This transaction was made on behalf of a beneficiary of the Company's Restricted
Share Scheme and Group Incentive Scheme(not any director of BHP Billiton Plc
subject to the Company's Securities Dealing Code).  

Following the above transactions Messrs C W Goodyear and M Salamon have an
interest in the balance held by the Trust of 4,074,699 shares as potential
beneficiaries of the Trust.

BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                     BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                     Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne  Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United
Victoria 3000                                               Kingdom
Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]        Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]

                   The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia







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