BHP's 'four pillars' no buffer against weak commodity prices

Sydney

BHP Billiton's strategy of diversifying across commodities was designed to shield the miner in a volatile sector, but its entire suite of products suffered double-digit price falls in the latest half-year.

Unlike rivals which rely on one or two minerals, the world's biggest miner has 10 major commodities, including its so-called "four pillars of growth" - iron ore, copper, petroleum products and coal.

All four are currently at multi-year lows …