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。
