Russia`s gold output increased 12.5%, year-on-year, in January-June 2008 to 62.06 metric tons (1.99 million ounces), the Union of Russian Gold Miners said Thursday.

Russia`s largest gold producers include Polyus Gold and Polymetal.

Polyus Gold, announced Wednesday that its fine gold output had increased 20% year-on-year in January-June to 559,000 ounces.

Polymetal, said Wednesday its gold output grew 20% year-on-year in January-June to 136,000 ounces.

Polymetal has operations in the Magadan Region and Khabarovsk Territory in Russia`s Far East, in the Urals region of Sverdlovsk, and in the Chita Region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory in Siberia.
sections: Economics