BHP H2 profit up 30% on prices and output

BHP Billiton Ltd, the world's biggest mining company, booked a 30 percent gain in second-half profit after boosting production of crude oil and metals to benefit from rising prices driven by demand from China.

Net income was $9.4 billion for the six months ended June 30, from $7.25 billion a year earlier, according to figures derived by subtracting first-half from full-year results released yesterday. That matched the mean estimate based on 11 analyst forecasts for full-year profit compiled by Bloomberg.

Chief Executive Officer Marius Kloppers, 45, who's pursuing a takeover of Rio Tinto Group in the world's biggest mining industry acquisition, delivered record earnings for oil, base metals, iron ore, manganese and energy coal. The pressure is on his Rio counterpart Tom Albanese to post better profit growth when the London-based company reports next week.