Prodn Report QE 30 June 2001

BHP Billiton Limited
31 July 2001



Release Time     IMMEDIATE
Date          31 July 2001
Number     06/01



PART 1


                                 BHP BILLITON

                      PRODUCTION REPORT FOR THE QUARTER

                              ENDED 30 JUNE 2001

BHP Billiton today released its production report for the quarter ended 30
June, 2001. Production of most major mineral commodities was higher than both
the corresponding period last year and the March 2001 quarter.

  * Aluminium production was 15 per cent higher than the corresponding
    period last year and in line with the March 2001 quarter following the
    commencement of production at the Mozal smelter in June 2000. Full
    production at Mozal (250,000 tonnes per annum) was reached in December
    2000, only six months after commissioning. Production at Alumar and
    Valesul (Brazil) was in line with the March quarter, however power usage
    restrictions are expected to impact on production in the September 2001
    quarter.
  * Copper production was 21 per cent higher than the corresponding period
    last year and in line with the March 2001 quarter. The increase in
    production compared to the corresponding period last year reflects the
    addition of Cerro Colorado, Alumbrera and Highland Valley mines following
    the acquisition of Rio Algom in October 2000. Slightly lower production
    compared to the March quarter was primarily due to lower production at
    Escondida as a result of reduced head grades and a major mill shutdown in
    June.
  * Iron Ore production was in line with the corresponding quarter last year
    and 12 per cent higher than the March 2001 quarter. Increased sales were
    recorded in all markets, with higher volumes to Chinese, Korean and
    Taiwanese customers accounting for the majority of the increase.


        BHP Billiton sold a record 71.3 million wet tonnes (100 per cent
        terms) of iron ore for the year ended 30 June 2001, an increase of 8.1
        million wet tonnes over the previous twelve-month period. Record Yandi
        shipments of 30.7 million wet tonnes for the year contributed
        significantly to this result.

  * WA HBI production was higher than the March 2001 quarter reflecting
    continued production ramp-up. A new daily production record of 5,460
    tonnes in June 2001 contributed to a record weekly production milestone of
    35,305 tonnes. However a fire in May shut down Train 1 for a period of six
    weeks and Train 2 for 14 days and significantly impacted production during
    the quarter.
  * Coking Coal production during the period was 48 per cent higher than the
    corresponding quarter last year and 14 per cent higher than the March 2001
    quarter. The increase is due to the acquisition of QCT Resources Limited
    and higher production from the Blackwater, Goonyella and Riverside mines
    to make up for the shortfall from other mines as a result of industrial
    action during the year.
  * Thermal Coal production during the period was in line with the
    corresponding quarter last year and the March 2001 quarter, reflecting the
    acquisition of Colombian coal assets CDC, in September 2000 (33.3 per cent
    interest), and CZN in November 2000 (16.6 per cent interest). This was
    offset, in part, by reduced production in South Africa following the sale
    of Glisa Colliery and Matla Coal Mines during the June 2001 quarter.
  * Ekati Diamond production was 15 per cent higher than the corresponding
    period last year and


        14 per cent higher than the March 2001 quarter due to a combination of
        higher throughput and higher ore grade. Higher recoveries of low value
        diamonds were also recorded during the period from the Panda pipe.

  * Oil and Condensate production for the June 2001 quarter was 12 per cent
    lower compared to the corresponding period last year and eight per cent
    lower than the March 2001 quarter due to natural field decline at Bass
    Strait and the one-week shut-in of Laminaria/Corallina in June for
    scheduled maintenance. Production was also lower from Griffin due to the
    shut-in of the Scindian 3 well since early May. It is expected that the
    well will remain shut-in until early 2002. This was offset in part by the
    purchase of a 4.95 per cent interest in the Genesis field in January 2000,
    the commencement of production at the Keith field in November 2000, and
    higher production at Liverpool Bay.
  * Natural Gas production for the quarter was 13 per cent higher than the
    corresponding period last year and six per cent higher than the March 2001
    quarter following the commencement of gas sales into the Eastern Gas
    Pipeline and additional nominations to Gascor, Victoria. Production of gas
    from the Zamzama field in Pakistan also commenced in March 2001. This was
    offset in part by reduced production at the North West Shelf Project
    following scheduled maintenance to LNG Train 3 and debottlenecking
    activities on the North Rankin A platform.
  * Raw Steel production during the quarter was in line with the
    corresponding period last year and four per cent higher than the March
    2001 quarter. The performance of the Steel business during the year has
    been adversely affected by industrial action and major planned repairs to
    the Hot Strip Mill at the Port Kembla Steelworks. Production in the June
    2001 quarter was higher than the March quarter, reflecting the greater
    number of days lost due to industrial action during the March quarter.







Further information can be found on our Internet site: http://
www.bhpbilliton.com





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