Production of copper in concentrate for the quarter ended 30 June was lower than for the corresponding quarter last year largely due to the cessation of production at BHP’s North American copper operations in June 1999. Production of copper in concentrate at Escondida was lower due to significantly lower average head grade. Increased Tintaya production of copper in concentrate was due to higher head grade and mill recovery.

Ekati diamond mine is at full production following commissioning of the mine operations in October 1998.

Cannington silver production and shipments were higher for the fourth quarter compared to the same quarter last year due to higher grade ore and increased plant feed.

Raw steel production (core steel operations) for the quarter ended 30 June was lower than for the corresponding quarter last year due to industrial disputation at the Glenbrook Steelworks in New Zealand. Higher domestic despatches from offshore core steel operations were due to increased customer demand.

Raw steel production (discontinuing steel operations) was lower for the fourth quarter compared to the corresponding period last year due to the closure of Newcastle primary steel operations in September 1999. Sydney Steel Mill is continuing to operate at peak levels and production from Whyalla Steelworks was also higher compared to the corresponding quarter last year. Higher output from Delta, Ohio, is due to the plant operating at rated capacity. Lower export despatches from Newcastle and Whyalla was due to the cessation of export billet production following the closure of the Newcastle operations.

Oil and condensate production for the fourth quarter was higher compared to the corresponding quarter last year largely due to new production from the Laminaria/Corallina and Buffalo fields. Production from Buffalo was lower in May and June than for previous months due to the onset of water production and maintenance shutdown. As at mid-July Griffin production had increased to 60 000 bopd (gross) from its previous level of around 36 000 bopd as a result of the tie-in of the Griffin 8 and Scindian 3 infill wells. Production from Liverpool Bay was considerably higher compared to the previous year, as production was curtailed for much of the corresponding period in 1999 due to a minor oil spill. Production from Bruce for this quarter was lower compared to fourth quarter last year due to a planned shutdown of the facility.

Production and Shipment Report
Release time	Immediate
Date	24 July 2000
Quarter	June 2000
		QUARTER ENDED			13 MONTHS	12 MONTHS
		30 JUNE	31 MAY		TO JUNE	TO MAY
		2000	1999	% change	2000	1999	% change
Minerals
Steelmaking and Energy Materials
Production
Coal	('millions t)	12.884	14.635	-12%	57.585	53.086	8%
Iron Ore - West Aust	('millions t)	14.451	11.946	21%	53.939	55.643	-3%
Iron Ore - Brazil	('millions t)	1.736	1.085	60%	7.057	4.154	70%
HBI - West Aust	('000 t)	99	39	>100%	442	39	>100%
Shipments
Coal	('millions t)	12.845	13.820	-7%	56.573	53.505	6%
Iron Ore - West Aust	('millions t)	13.963	11.669	20%	54.220	52.503	3%
Iron Ore - Brazil	('millions t)	1.675	1.245	35%	7.565	5.083	49%
HBI - West Aust	('000 t)	72	23	>100%	429	23	>100%
Non-Ferrous and Industrial Materials
Production
Copper in concentrate	('000 t)	184	265	-30%	792	918	-14%
Copper cathodes (SXEW)	('000 t)	27	27	0%	121	69	75%
Gold in concentrate	(fine oz)	175,564	169,408	4%	606,017	709,258	-15%
Silver in (lead) concentrate	('000 oz)	8,239	6,800	21%	31,732	22,090	44%
Lead in concentrate	(tonnes)	53,871	45,129	19%	214,781	150,073	43%
Zinc in concentrate	(tonnes)	15,212	13,918	9%	66,408	43,981	51%
Diamonds	('000 carats)	370	386	-4%	1,417	663	>100%
Shipments
Copper	('000 t)	184	293	-37%	930	1,137	-18%
Copper cathodes (SXEW)	('000 t)	31	31	0%	123	74	66%
Gold	(fine oz)	149,780	310,041	-52%	663,215	992,977	-33%
Silver in concentrate	('000 oz)	8,608	5,937	45%	31,321	23,327	34%
Lead in concentrate	(tonnes)	60,503	38,986	55%	216,102	156,013	39%
Zinc in concentrate	(tonnes)	18,144	12,229	48%	67,272	45,555	48%
Steel
Core
Production
Raw steel	('000 t)	1,338	1,400	-4%	5,898	5,433	9%
Marketable steel products	('000 t)	1,322	1,366	-3%	5,441	4,914	11%
Despatches
Steel despatches	('000 t)	1,359	1,383	-2%	5,243	4,985	5%
Discontinuing Operations
Production
Raw steel	('000 t)	380	640	-41%	2,092	2,832	-26%
Marketable steel products	('000 t)	865	871	-1%	3,378	3,392	0%
Despatches
Steel despatches	('000 t)	770	942	-18%	3,349	3,402	-2%
Petroleum
Production
Crude oil & condensate	('000 bbl)	20,735	15,863	31%	85,256	64,714	32%
Natural gas	(bcf)	63.3	54.7	16%	259.4	231.7	12%
LPG	('000 t)	167.4	173.0	-3%	737.6	602.0	23%
Ethane	('000 t)	20.0	17.2	16%	86.5	74.4	16%
Methanol	('000 t)	7.6	10.9	-31%	38.9	33.1	17%
Figures include BHP share of production from joint ventures and 100% of production from controlled entities (unless otherwise stated).