On July 26, Australian coal producer
Xstrata announced its
production results for the first half of 2011. Total consolidated coal
production of the company decreased to 38.5 million mt in the first six months of the current year, compared to 38.6 million mt in the same period of the previous year.
Xstrata posted a nine percent increase in thermal coal
production in the first six months of the year, driven by the recently commissioned Mangoola operations. The
coking coal production volumes from its Australian operations dropped to 3.1 million mt, down by 18 percent year on year.
Despite a rapid recovery at the majority of
Xstrata's mines from the Queensland floods, domestic and export sales from the Rolleston operation were halted for several weeks due to delays in the repair of damaged rail infrastructure. On the other hand, South African coal
production was slightly higher compared to the same period of the previous year.
For the second quarter of 2011,
Xstrata posted stronger
production volumes compared to first quarter
production which was affected by heavy weather and other operational issues.