North American Palladium has almost doubled its fourth-quarter production of palladium to 73,242 ounces from 36,833 ounces in the same period last year.

The strong showing in the fourth quarter meant the company's output for 2006 was up 34 per cent to 237,000 ounces from last year's figure of 177,167 ounces.

By-product metal production at the company's Lac des Iles open pit and the new mines opened in 2006 also improved, with platinum production up 73 per cent to 6,5512, as the company's platinum-derived revenues rose 43 per cent to $24.4 million

Improvements in North American Palladium's figures for platinum are a result of a worldwide increase in prices and the higher grade ore from the company's mines which meant that its average head grade improved from 2.18 g/t of palladium to 1.66 g/t of palladium.

During the fiscal year 2006, the company's total revenues from all metals increased by 72 per cent to $159.2 million against 2005's figure of £92.6 million. Its revenues from palladium soared by 74 per cent to nearly $76 million from $43.4 million.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd