BHP Coal Price Neg Update

BHP Limited
1 March 2001





Release Time     IMMEDIATE

Date          1 March 2001

Number     22/01


                      BHP COAL PRICE NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

BHP Limited (BHP) today confirmed it has finalised a number of individual Hard
Coking Coal (HCC) price negotiations with several Japanese customers for
deliveries in 2001/02. These settlements are broadly in line with HCC price
settlements recently reported for this market.

As previously advised, BHP's approach to coal price negotiations this year
involves individual negotiations with steel making customers in Japan, as well
as customers in other markets (Korea, Taiwan, India, Europe, Brazil).

This approach differs to price negotiations in previous years when a '
benchmark pricing' system was established in Japan. The benchmark price was
commonly used in public reporting of coal pricing settlements and, for BHP,
reflected the price received for approximately 23 per cent of our annual coal
sales.

The benchmark pricing system is no longer operating in Japan and coal prices
are now being established globally with customers on an individual basis.
Accordingly, and owing to the fact that BHP is engaged in sensitive commercial
negotiations with a range of customers, the Company will publicly announce
average price settlements when price negotiations for the majority of its
expected sales tonnage have been completed.

BHP will advise achieved average price settlements on a global basis for the
main three product segments - Hard Coking Coal (HCC), Semi Soft Coking Coal,
and Thermal Coal.

Unlike some producers, BHP does not have significant tonnages of Semi-HCC
which has commonly been sold at large discounts to HCC and which may be
subject to larger percentage increases during current negotiations. In
addition, this coal is likely to form only a small percentage of Japanese
customer demand in 2001/02.

For Semi Soft Coking Coal and Thermal coal, BHP expects stronger percentage
outcomes than HCC with Japanese, Korean and other customers. European and
Brazilian negotiations are expected to continue through March.

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


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