BHP Billiton is a step closer to its long term goal in the Pilbara, after announcing $US301 million worth of new spending today.

The global miner will spend the money on two new ship-loaders at Port Hedland, which will help increase the export capacity of its iron ore division.

Ship-loaders are effectively large spouts that pour iron ore directly into the hull of giant ships, and the two new ones will replace a couple of 40 year old ship-loaders. The new models can each move an extra 2,500 tonnes of ore an hour.

The spending is part of the gradual upgrade and improvement BHP is conducting in the Pilbara, with the goal of gradually growing the export business toward 270 million tonnes per year.

''This investment will also create additional port capacity that can be utilised as a series of debottlenecking initiatives increase the capacity of our Western Australia Iron Ore supply chain towards 270 million tonnes per annum (100% basis), at a low capital cost," said BHP in a statement.

Iron ore remains BHP's biggest money spinner, and the division has already outperformed in 2013, with production guidance for fiscal 2014 being lifted in October from 207 million tonnes to 212 million tonnes.