Colombian output of nickel and coal fell in the first quarter, while gold, silver and platinum production rose, the government said Monday.
Nickel output fell 7.5% year on year to 21.62 million lb at the Cerro Matoso mine, owned by BHP Billiton spinoff South32, from 23.34 million lb a year earlier, the National Mining Agency said in a statement.
Colombia's coal output dropped 7.2% to 21.5 million mt in the quarter from 23.2 million mt a year earlier, as shipments were hampered by neighboring Venezuela's decision to close its borders, the agency said. Colombia is Latin America's largest coal producer.
Gold production doubled to 521,790 oz from 271,848 oz a year earlier, according to the agency. Silver production jumped by half to 77,855 oz from 50,309 oz a year earlier, while platinum soared 61% to 5,380 oz from 3,341 oz, the agency said.
