BHP Billiton Ltd., the globe’s biggest mining company, might announce a near-record annual gain tomorrow, further assisting to push its $39 billion hostile takeover offer for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc.

According to the average estimate of 15 analysts, BHP, which declared a bid for Potash Corp. last week, will announce a total income of $13.3 billion for the year that concluded June 30. That contrasts to last year’s $5.9 billion and
2008’s record $15.4 billion.

Rising prices for aluminum, nickel and copper have enhanced profit margins after last year’s earnings plummeted as the global recession exhausted demand for raw materials. Chief Executive Officer Marius Kloppers, 47, is looking to add potash mines to metals, coal and energy units, putting money on the increasing demand for fertilizer as global food needs to get bigger.

Charles Kernot, an analyst at Evolution Securities Ltd. in London, said over the phone that, “We’ve seen a very healthy recovery across a lot of different commodities over the past few months. Clearly the company’s overall financial strength will be a focus given its tilt at Potash Corp. and so people are going to be looking to see how much the company could borrow.”

Buying Potash Corp. would give BHP six potash operations as well as phosphate and nitrogen facilities. The company also has investments in four rival potash producers valued at about $8 billion, according to UBS.

BHP, based in Melbourne, has arranged $45 billion of loans for its bid, the most debt to finance a takeover since February 2008.

BHP may set out around $13 billion of Potash Corp. assets to give it capability to enhance its offer, UBS said on Aug. 19, referring to nitrogen and phosphate units and listed equity stakes.