RNS Number:3601L
BHP Billiton PLC
21 May 2003

Date: 21 May 2003
Number: 19/03


                   BHP BILLITON SETTLES 2003 IRON ORE PRICES


BHP Billiton today announced it had reached agreement with Japanese customers on
the prices of its Fine and Lump iron ores for the year commencing 1 April 2003.

The agreed prices are as follows:

  * Mt Newman High Grade Fines 30.83 US cents per dry long ton unit; an
    increase of 9.0 per cent.

  * Mt Newman High Grade Lump 39.35 US cents per dry long ton unit; an
    increase of 8.9 per cent.

Prices for Yandi and Mt Goldsworthy ores will increase by similar percentages.

                                      ****

Further information can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com


Australia                                                     United Kingdom

Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations                              Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 408 313 259                  Tel: +44 20 7802 4156  Mobile: +44 7769 934 942
email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com                         email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
Tracey Whitehead, Media Relations                             Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202 Mobile: +61 419 404 978                  Tel: +44 20 7802 4177
email: Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.com                       email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com

United States                                                 South Africa
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations                        Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699                  Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587
email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com                   email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com


BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                 Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United
3000                                                    Kingdom
Telephone +61 3 9609 3333 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015     Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111

              The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

MSCIIFFREDILFIV