BHP Billiton reported little or no growth in first quarter iron ore production infigures released first thing Wednesday morning.

The Australian mining giant said output remained flat at 58mt. However, it still expects to produce between 228mt and 237mt for 2017.

That amount excludes production from the shuttered Samarco mine in Brazil in which it holds a 50% stake. That mine is not expected to reopen this year.

However,