Releasing its production reports for the half year ended December 2007, the group said these records were delivered in 12 assets across six of its nine Customer Sector Groups.

"This performance reinforces our strong track record of project delivery. Our deep inventory of expansion projects underpins further growth," the group said.

BHP Billiton has a broad exposure to the steel making sector through its iron ore, manganese and metallurgical coal operations and achieved record shipments in all of these commodities, delivering an eighth consecutive half year production record at Western Australia Iron Ore. This was achieved at a time when current demand and the outlook remain very strong and prices for these commodities reached record levels, it said.

The newly commissioned petroleum projects contributed to a record performance. Continuing ramp up of production from these projects and future expansions will enhance BHP''s net long energy position at a time of historically high energy prices.

"We continued to focus on developing and delivering world class projects.

"First product was delivered from seven major projects across five commodities during the quarter. This, along with four major projects scheduled to commission in the next six months will significantly increase our production," it said.

A further four major projects were sanctioned recently, including the third port in Newcastle, which will underpin its Australian East Coast expansion plans in Energy Coal.

The group reported record half-year production from the total petroleum business, including record natural gas. Alumina, copper concentrate, iron ore, manganese ore and alloy also set records, as well as equal record production for aluminium. All were supported by strong market conditions.

It also reported significant increase in half-year production of copper cathode, uranium, lead, zinc, diamonds and metallurgical coal.

Half-year production records were achieved at Worsley, Western Australia Iron Ore, GEMCO, Illawarra Coal, and Hunter Valley Coal (all Australia), Zamzama (Pakistan), Paranam (Suriname), Samarco (Brazil), Hillside and Samancor (both South Africa), and Cerrejon Coal (Colombia) operations.

Mozal (Mozambique) equalled its previous record production.

The group also reported record half-year shipments across the entire carbon steel materials commodity suite (iron ore up six percent, manganese up six percent and metallurgical coal up 13 percent), driven by continuing strong customer demand.

Record half-year total material mined and ore hoisting were achieved at Olympic Dam (Australia).