Australian commodities companies have fallen heavily. BHP shares fell 4 per cent to $32.49, their lowest since July 2009. Rio Tinto fell 4 per cent to $57.99, their lowest since October 2009. BHP has fallen 10 per cent this month and Rio has fallen 12 per cent in the same period. Other energy stocks followed suit yesterday, with Newcrest Mining falling $1.07 to $23.80. Fortescue Metals fell 26¢ to $4.84 and Origin Energy fell 22¢ to $12.93. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index has fallen 6.5 per cent in the past 12 trading days, closing yesterday at 4165, its low for the day. Markets in the region were awash with red. The Hong Kong exchange fell 3 per cent. Japan, Shanghai, Taiwan and South Korea all fell heavily. Adding to those pressures, investors expect increased production from new mines commissioned at the peak of the boom to start coming online in the next few years, increasing supply and putting further downward pressure on commodities prices.