Australia surpassed the US as the world’s second-largest gold producer in the first half of this year as output dwindled in the US, a research group said.
Australian gold output rose to 112 tonnes in the six months to June 30, the Melbourne-based Surbiton Associates Pty said in an e-mailed statement.
China produced 147 tonnes and the US 105 tonnes, the report said.
Australian output in the three months to Sept. 30 was little changed at 56 tonnes, the research group said. Bullion jumped to a record this month, as the dollar’s slump deepened, prompting central banks to buy the precious metal.
Australia produces about A$7.5 billion (US$6.8 billion) worth of gold, Surbiton said.
“With the continued decline in South African output and lower production in the US in the first half of 2009, Australia has regained the No. 2 spot,” said Sandra Close, a director of Surbiton Associates, which collates results from Australia’s gold-mining companies to produce its numbers.
Newcrest Mining Ltd’s Telfer mine was Australia’s largest producing mine in the quarter with output of 162,929 ounces, the report said.
The Super Pit ranked second at 162,000 ounces.
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