Number 19/03

BHP Billiton today announced it had reached agreement with Japanese customers on the prices of its Fine and Lump iron ores for the year commencing 1 April 2003.

The agreed prices are as follows:

• Mt Newman High Grade Fines 30.83 US cents per dry long ton unit; an increase of 9.0 per cent.

• Mt Newman High Grade Lump 39.35 US cents per dry long ton unit; an increase of 8.9 per cent.

Prices for Yandi and Mt Goldsworthy ores will increase by similar percentages.

For further information contact:

Australia
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952  Mobile: +61 408 313 259
email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com

Tracey Whitehead, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202  Mobile: +61 419 404 978
email: Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.com

United Kingdom
Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4156  Mobile: +44 7769 934 942
email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com

Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com

United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 713 961 8625  Mobile: +1 713 480 3699
email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com


South Africa
Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +27 11 376 3360  Mobile: +27 82 458 2587
email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com