Johannesburg - South African bullion producer Gold Fields on Thursday swung to a quarterly loss as production fell 10 percent quarter-on-quarter due to seasonal weakness in the Christmas break and safety closures.
Gold production in the three months to March totalled 501 000 ounces.
The company reported a normalised earnings loss of $13 million, compared with earnings of $17 million in the previous quarter.
Production at its flagship South Deep mine in South Africa fell by 25 percent due to the Christmas holidays and a four-month safety stoppage. Technical faults at the mine, have also contributed to delays and the mechanised operation is yet to turn a profit.
The company signed a three-year wage deal in April with the National Union of Mineworkers that would add 10 percent to its already stretched cost bill.
Reuters