Coal miner Whitehaven Coal Ltd
(ASX:WHC) has reported record run-of-mine coal production of 1.107 million tonnes for the September quarter up 50 per cent on the previous corresponding period.
The company also reported record saleable coal production of 1.043 million tonnes for the quarter up 41 per cent on the same quarter last year.
Coal sales in the three months to September 30 rose 22 per cent to 1.144 million tonnes.
Whitehaven says increased rail capacity continues to meet the company’s expansion requirements, however it says 3.6 million tonnes per annum of port capacity at Port Waratah Coal Services remains a constraint.
And in other news the company says the Foreign Investment Review Board has approved the sale of a 7.5 per cent interest in the Narrabri joint venture to a Korean consortium for $125 million.
Whitehaven says it has also reached an agreement with Coal & Allied Industries Ltd to acquire the Vickery assets for $31.5 million. Whitehaven Coal’s 2009 net profit was by far its best in five years.
