Vedanta posts record output of iron ore, aluminium

 Indian-focused mining group Vedanta posted record quarterly production of iron ore and aluminium in its fourth quarter ended March 2010.

Fourth-quarter production of saleable iron ore, its second most profitable product, jumped 59 per cent to 7.8 million tonnes, taking its annual production up 34 per cent helped by its Dempo and Sesa operations.

Aluminium output in the fourth quarter rose 19 per cent to a record 159,000 tonnes, with full-year production rising 15 per cent on 2009.

Output of refined zinc, its most profitable product, was steady at 150,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter.

Vedanta was the second best performing stock on the blue chip FTSE 100 index last year, surging 327 per cent, and has climbed 12 per cent this year.