For the Date of 13 April 2005

BHP Billiton Plc

Registration Number 3196209

Neathouse Place

London SW1V 1BH

United Kingdom

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

The agreed prices are as follows:

• Mt Newman High Grade Fines 61.72 US cents per dry metric tonne unit; an increase of 71.5 per cent.

• Prices for Mt Newman High Grade Lump, Pisolite (Yandi), Marra Mamba (Area C MAC TM) and Brockman (Yarrie) ores will also increase by the same percentage.

BHP Billiton President Iron Ore Graeme Hunt said the price increases were a result of increasing global steel demand.

"The growing demand for steel is causing a significant increase in demand for our products. Higher iron ore prices reflect the additional costs we are incurring to meet our customers needs now and in the future through new investment," he said.

Mr Hunt said that while BHP Billiton was not successful this year gaining recognition of the freight cost advantages to north Asian steel makers in sourcing Australian iron ore, the issue was still relevant. "We will continue to discuss this issue with our customers in the year ahead," he said.

Notes:

• Iron ore prices are denominated in US cents per dry metric tonne unit, which reflects a common base per unit of iron ore content.

• To determine the USD price per tonne, the following conversion formula must be used:

• In FY2004, BHP Billiton's Western Australian iron ore operations shipped a record 88.3 wet million tonnes (100% basis) of ore.

• Japan continues to be BHP Billiton Iron Ore's biggest customer, buying 41 per cent of its products, followed by China (23%), Korea (17%) Australia (9%) and Taiwan (7%).

• In 2004, the price of Mt Newman High Grade Lump was 45.93 US cents per dry metric tonne unit; an increase of 18.62 per cent. Mt Newman High Grade Fines was 35.99 US cents per dry metric tonne; an increase of 18.62 per cent.