外媒：BHP三季度产量上涨11%

概述：必合必拓本财政年度第3季度铁矿石产量上涨11%达到3.116千万吨。瑞银分析师GlynLawcock认为，全球性的钢铁产量反弹，将延续对铁矿石和焦煤的需求。

原文

April 21 (Bloomberg) -- BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s largest mining company, said third-quarter iron-ore production rose 11 percent as demand from China surged.

Output of the ore, the company’s biggest earner in fiscal 2009, was 31.16 million metric tons in the three months ended March 31, from 28.19 million tons a year earlier, Melbourne- based BHP said today in a statement. That compares with UBS AG’s estimates of 27.9 million tons and 33.25 million tons from Credit Suisse Group AG.

BHP joins rival Rio Tinto Group in raising iron-ore production as demand from automakers and builders rebounds with the global economic recovery. Economic growth in China, the biggest metals consumer, accelerated to the fastest pace in almost three years in the March quarter.

“Global steel production rates suggest continued higher demand for iron ore and coking coal,” UBS analyst Glyn Lawcock said in a report on April 16. He has a “buy” rating on BHP.

The production report came before trading began in Sydney. The stock has declined 0.7 percent this year, compared with a 4.9 percent gain in Rio’s Sydney-traded shares and a 1.1 percent rise in the benchmark index.

BHP reported year-to-date production records for iron ore as it expands output, it said. The Rapid Growth Project 4 iron ore expansion is “progressing well,” BHP said.

（BusinessWeek）