Mining Weekly reports that the Xstrata mining company presented its financial results on Friday, according to which the company increased production across its metals and minerals board in the six months ending on June 30.



The diversified miner recently approached the huge mining company Anglo in order to create “a merger of equals” which could go toe-to-toe with the giant miner BHP Billiton. Miner Anglo is resisting the merger.



Liberum Capital Mining commented: “Xstrata has just reported a surprisingly strong second-quarter production report, with stand out performances in thermal coal and zinc, and solid outturns in copper.”



Xstrata ‘s production volumes rose in copper, thermal coal, mined nickel and zinc, in comparison to the first half of 2008.



Xstrata has mining operations and projects in 19 countries. The mining company noted that it holds a significant position in copper, coking coal, thermal coal, ferrochrome, nickel, vanadium and zinc, with a growing PGMs business, as well as additional exposures to gold, cobalt, lead and silver, recycling facilities and a series of global technology products.