Fresnillo Plc (LON:FRES) has told investors that quarterly silver production totalled 15.5mln ounces, up 6.3% on the third quarter last year.
Output was boosted by contribution from Pyrites Plant, higher grades at the Fresnillo operation as well as Herradura and Ciénega, plus higher volumes of ore milled at the San Julián site.
The company noted that production remained in line with the previous quarter and year-to-date production was up 8.5% at 46.3mln ounces.
READ: Fresnillo may become London’s go-to precious metals miner
Forecasts for the full year have, however, been downgraded somewhat to 62-64.5mln ounces, instead of 64.5-67.5mln. The Mexican miner noted challenges at the Saucito and Fresnillo mines, which are still being addressed.
“Though silver production is up against all comparable periods, we are revising full-year silver guidance following continued challenges at the Fresnillo and Saucito mines,” said Fresnillo chief executive Octavio Alvídrez.
“These are world class, tier one silver assets, and we remain both determined, and confident, given the actions we are taking, that we will deliver a better performance in the last quarter and in 2019.”
Gold production was meanwhile in decline through the third quarter at 225,000 ounces, down 3.5%, as a result of quicker than normal leaching, lower grades and lower ore volumes delivered to leach pads.
Year-to-date gold production amounted to 690,000 ounces which represent a 1.7% improvement compared to the same period in 2017.
Fresnillo has revised its full-year gold production forecasts slightly – seeing 920,000 to 940,000 ounces, from 900,000 to 930,000).