BHP Billiton Celebrates China Iron Ore Shipping Milestone

BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE:BHP,ASX:BHP,LSE:BLT) shipped its billionth tonne of iron ore to China last week and celebrated the day in Shanghai with customers, industrial associations, joint venture partners, suppliers and employees.

As quoted in the press release:

BHP Billiton last night celebrated the shipment of its one billionth tonne of iron ore to China with customers, industrial associations, joint venture partners, suppliers and employees in Shanghai.

BHP Billiton’s Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mackenzie was joined by President Iron Ore Jimmy Wilson, President HSE, Marketing and Technology Mike Henry, President Coal Dean Dalla Valle and guests to reveal the commemorative plaque to mark the milestone.

BHP Billiton’s CEO, Andrew Mackenzie, stated:

China is of immense importance to BHP Billiton and to Australia.

We always strive to develop closer ties with China and contribute to its development by providing long-term, reliable and high-quality products at a transparent market price.

BHP Billiton is very proud of the role it has helped play in China’s remarkable economic and urban growth through the trade in iron ore and other commodities. The rate of this growth, and the demand for iron ore, has been unprecedented.

It took nearly 30 years for BHP Billiton to ship 100 million tonnes of iron ore to China and then only 12 more years to reach the one billion tonne milestone.

President HSE, Marketing and Technology Mike Henry commented:

Thanks to China’s tremendous achievements in manufacturing and steelmaking, part of the iron ore we export comes back to Australia as high-quality infrastructure and equipment. The resources industry now relies on bulk materials handling machines, transportable buildings and rolling stock made in China.

Click here for BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE:BHP,ASX:BHP,LSE:BLT) press release.