North American Palladium (NAP) has seen its palladium production rise in comparison with figures for 2003, according to the latest figures.

The Canadian-based firm delivered a second quarter report which showed that palladium production stood at 75,970 ounces -a significant increase on the 69,069 ounces produced in the same quarter the year before.

In total the mill processed 1,445,445 tonnes of ore at an average of 15,884 tonnes per day, with a palladium head grade of 2.22 grams per tonne.

The output of by-product metals during the second quarter of 2004 included 6,319 ounces of platinum.

However, NAP did see its recovery rate dip to its lowest for some time, standing at 73.5 per cent.

NAP's Lac des Iles Mine is Canada's only primary producer of platinum group metals and is one of the largest open pit bulk mineable palladium reserves in the world.