Here is an interesting article:"" BHP Billiton Boosts December...

Here is an interesting article:

"" BHP Billiton Boosts December Iron Ore Shipments - Report
02/01/2009 8:27AM
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) appears to have boosted December Pilbara iron ore shipments and may have been spared from most of a flagged 6 million ton shortfall from its 2008 sales target, the Australian reported on its Web site Friday, citing Port Hedland harbor statistics.

In November, BHP said a sharp slump in Chinese iron ore demand meant annual sales would probably be 6 million tons down from its target of 130 million because steel mills couldn't take contracted shipments, the Web site said.

However, Port Hedland harbor statistics show that, by Dec. 30, 58 ships had left BHP's wharves for the month, with four still in port. If those four left before the new year, BHP will have beaten November's 59 shipments and equaled October's 62, the Web site reported. The miner may therefore fall only 1 million or 2 million tons short of its target, it said.

A BHP spokeswoman declined to comment on whether the company had managed to restrict lost sales, saying all would be revealed in the miner's Jan. 21 quarterly production report, the Web site said. ""

May be Madoff has been running the books at Port Hedland Harbour Authority!