Fresnillo first-quarter production slumps, sticks to full-year targets

Precious metals miner Fresnillo reported a fall in first-quarter production on Thursday, calling it "slightly weaker than anticipated" but sticking to output targets for the year as spending on tackling operational issues paid off.

Silver output slipped 14.8% to 13.1-million ounces in the three months ended March 31, mainly owing to lower grades of ore and lower ore throughput, Fresnillo said. Gold production dropped by 8.8%.