BHP Billiton joins Rio Tinto in shifting focus to growth from cost cutting

Brussels

BHP Billiton has talked up its future growth options, joining fellow mining giant Rio Tinto in marking a shift in focus after four years of aggressive cost cutting.

While big miners are still looking to sell assets to help cut debt or to exit businesses such as nickel and coal, they are also preparing for a pick-up in demand as looming supply gaps in at least some commodities sow the seeds for higher prices.