Colombian output of nickel rose in the third quarter from a year ago, while precious metals and coal production fell, the government said.
Nickel output jumped 33.8% to 25.7 million lb from 19.2 million lb a year earlier at the Cerro Matoso mine, owned by BHP Billiton spinoff South32, the National Mining Agency said Tuesday in a statement.
Gold output dropped 38.3% to 288,194 oz from 467,768 oz a year earlier, the agency said. The government has imposed tougher controls on gold trading as part of a clampdown on illegal mining.
Silver slid 0.3% to 76,935 oz from 77,164 oz, while platinum plunged 44.5% to 4,952 oz from 8,934 oz.
Colombia's coal output at mines operated by BHP Billiton, Drummond and Glencore declined by 8.1% to 21.5 million mt in the quarter from 23.4 million mt a year earlier, the agency said. Colombia is Latin America's largest coal producer.
