The Anglo-Australian mining giant, BHP Billiton, has given its most optimistic assessment of the commodities markets since the global economic downturn. The company says surging demand from China for iron ore shipments will lift the mining industry, but it warns markets could remain volatile. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.
英国和澳大利亚的合资大型矿业公司必和必拓对世界商品市场做出全球经济滑坡以来最乐观的评估。必和必拓公司说，中国对铁矿石需求的大幅度上涨将提升世界矿业，但是同时警告说，市场仍然可能出现动荡。
Industrial analysts say iron ore prices could rise 10 to 20 percent this year because of increasing demand as the global economy recovers.
工业分析人士说，随世界经济复苏而来的需求上涨可能会导致铁矿石价格上涨10%到20%。
BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, also is optimistic in its latest assessment of key commodity markets.
世界最大矿业公司必和必拓在对世界主要商品市场的最新评估中也表示了乐观。
The company's output of iron ore, as well as copper, zinc and nickel, surged in the last three months of 2009 because of strong demand from Chinese carmakers and construction companies.
由于来自中国汽车制造商和建筑公司的强劲需求，必和必拓公司2009年最后三个月的铁、铜、锌和镍矿石产出大幅上扬。
Iron ore production in the three months hit 32.45 million metric tons, up from 29.4 million tons a year earlier.
2009年最后三个月的铁矿石产量从2008年同期的2940万吨增加到3245万吨。
China's imports of iron ore in 2009 rose by more than 40 percent, a buying spree economists say was driven in part by efforts to stockpile supplies while global prices are low.
中国2009年进口的铁矿石增加了40%。经济学家说，购买量增加的部分原因是人们试图在世界铁矿石价格低廉的时候增加库存。
Australian commodities analyst Peter Rudd says BHP has set records for the production of key minerals.
澳大利亚商品分析人士鲁德说，必和必拓主要矿产的产出创下记录。
"We've seen good levels of output, and given that, for the bulk commodities in particular - that's the iron ore and coal both steaming and coking - those prices are looking strong. Medium to longer term, it's an excellent outlook as far as profit from those particular commodities is concerned," he said.
鲁德说：“我们看到大部分矿产商品、主要是蒸汽煤和炼焦煤的产出都有增加，价格看来坚挺。这些矿产商品的利润的中期和长期前景一片灿烂。”
BHP Billition said in a statement that government stimulus measures imposed over the past year "appear to have supported a gradual return to normalized global trade."
必和必拓公在一份声明中说，过去一年来政府的经济刺激行动“看来促进了全球贸易的逐步正常化”。
The Anglo-Australian miner, however, warns that markets could remain volatile as governments start to end their stimulus programs.
但是必和必拓矿业公司同时警告说，随着各国政府开始对经济刺激计划进行收尾，市场仍然可能出现动荡。
Indeed, news that China's government plans to rein in bank lending concerned investors Wednesday and Thursday, sending BHP's share price lower. Economists say much of China's growth in the past year was the result of stimulus efforts, including rapid lending growth that funded new housing and factory construction.
中国政府将收缩银行借贷的计划在星期三和星期四令投资者有所担心，必和必拓的股票价格下滑。经济学家说，中国过去一年以来的经济增长是实施经济刺激计划的结果，包括刺激新建房屋和工厂的放宽借贷措施。
Last week Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest iron ore exporter, reported a 49 percent gain in fourth-quarter output.
世界第二大铁矿石出口商力拓公司上星期报告说，该公司去年第四季度的业绩上涨了49%。
Australia's mineral exports, especially to China and India, helped to insulate the country from the worst of the global slowdown.
澳大利亚主要向中国和印度提供铁矿石的出口减缓了全球经济滑坡对澳大利亚的严重冲击。
Industry analysts say Australia's mining boom is likely to continue for years" because of strong demand from the developing economies in Asia.
矿业分析人士说，由于亚洲发展中国家的强劲需求，方兴未艾的澳大利亚矿业生产很可能在今年继续增长。 |