Mineral output grows in Q1

MANILA, Philippines—Primary producers of gold, silver and nickel concentrates have been reporting high prices and improved production in the first quarter, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

Copper production, meanwhile, appeared to be on a downtrend up until mid-March, while output has been erratic for zinc and chromite.

According to MGB statistics, gold production started out at 2,755 kilograms for January, valued at more than P5.74 billion. This improved to 3,513 kilograms in February valued at P6.66 billion and 4,400 kilograms for the first two weeks of March, valued at P8.24 billion.

Silver output reached 4,738 kilograms valued at P17.22 million in January; about 3,405 kilograms in February valued at P137.7 million; and 3,247 kilograms at P151.36 million in the first two weeks of March.

Copper production reached 21,833 dry metric tons (dmt) of concentrates in January, valued at P1.57 billion; about 18,884 dmt in February valued at P1.44 billion; and 10,711 dmt in the first two weeks of March, valued at more than P919 million.

Nickel concentrate production reached 2,470 dmt in January, valued at P920.94 million; about 3,213 dmt in February for a value of P926.7 million; and 3,923 in the first two weeks of March, valued at more than P1.01 billion.

All nickel concentrate production has come from the first and so far the only hydrometallurgical processing plant in the country, which operates under Coral Bay Nickel Corp.