Strong commodity prices have enabled BHP to pay a record interim dividend for the third consecutive year as chief executive Mike Henry says raw material producers are well-placed to capitalise on a looming decade of inflation in the global economy.

The $US1.50 ($2.10) a share interim dividend announced on Tuesday amounted to $US7.6 billion of fully franked shareholder returns, and came after BHP announced a $US9.71 billion underlying profit for the past six months.