Australian coal producer Xstrata has announced its production results for the first quarter of 2012. Accordingly, Xstrata's total consolidated coal production in the given quarter rose by nine percent year on year to 21.1 million mt, due to increased Australian and South African thermal coal volumes resulting from more consistent, uninterrupted production compared to the same period in 2011.
In the first quarter, Xstrata's total coking coal output from its Australian operations decreased 17.6 percent to 1.4 million mt, while production from its South African thermal coal operations increased 19.5 percent to 4.9 million mt, both on year-on-year basis.
Meanwhile, Xstrata's total nickel production in the given quarter increased to 26,381 mt, up 8 percent compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year. This increase is a result of improved mined production from both Integrated Nickel Operations (INO) and Falcondo ferronickel operation.