By Robb M. Stewart
MELBOURNE--Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FMG.AU) said its
production of iron ore was running at a record 100 million metric
tons on an annualized basis in December, exceeding its own target
to reach 95 million tons by the end of the year.
Fortescue--Australia's third-largest iron ore producer after Rio
Tinto PLC (RIO) and BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP)--said output was
ramping up at its Firetail deposit in Western Australia state's
Pilbara region and it was on track to reach production capacity of
115 million tons a year this quarter.
The development of the Kings deposit, which resumes this month
after being halted in September, will deliver a further 40 million
tons a year of production by December, it said.
"While the year has been a difficult one with volatility in the
iron ore market, we finished the year on a huge high," Neville
Power, Fortescue's chief executive, said in a statement to the
Australian Securities Exchange.
Mr. Power said the company expected to continue setting records
throughout 2013.
Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com
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