BHP Billiton September Quarter Iron Ore Output Rises 1 Pct

SYDNEY, Oct. 18 -- Global miner BHP Billiton on Wednesday reported a one percent rise in iron ore production in the September 2012 quarter, and a 19 percent increase in petroleum production.

BHP Billiton said its Western Australian iron ore operations produced 39.77 million tonnes of ore in the September 2012 quarter, up one percent from the same period in 2011.

The world's biggest miner said production was impacted by a planned shutdown associated with its port expansion project.

Iron ore production guidance remains unchanged with a 5 percent increase expected in the 2013 financial year, BHP Billiton said.

The company's total petroleum products were 61.25 million barrels of oil equivalent in the three months to September, up 19 percent from the previous corresponding period.

BHP's total metallurgical coal production in the September quarter was down 4 percent on the same period in 2011, but its energy coal production was up 6 percent.