Global mining giant BHP Billiton on Wednesday reported a 10 percent increase in production in the six months to the end of December 2013, compared to the same period a year ago.

 In its half-year operational review, BHP Billiton said it maintained strong momentum in the December 2013 half year.

The company retains its 2014 financial year production guidance for its petroleum, copper, iron ore and coal businesses.

While BHP's total petroleum production fell 1.0 percent to 120.4 million barrels of oil or equivalent (mmboe) in the half, the world's biggest mining company said its full year guidance remained unchanged at 250 mmboe.

The company's iron ore production increased by a total of 19 percent in the December 2013 half year to a record 98 million tons.

BHP said it remained on track to achieve its full-year production guidance of 192 million tons for iron ore.

It also reaffirmed full-year production guidance of 41 million tons of metallurgical coal and 73 million tons of energy coal.

BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mackenzie said iron ore and metallurgical coal were particularly strong.

"Our productivity agenda is in full swing and we expect to carry strong momentum into the second half of the financial year," Mackenzie said in the company's half-year review.