By Rhiannon Hoyle

SYDNEY--Newcrest Mining Ltd. recorded a 6.4% increase in quarterly gold production and said it expects the cost of pandemic-related measures to be higher than earlier anticipated.

The Australia-based mining company said gold output totaled 535,477 troy ounces in the three months through December, up from 503,089 ounces in the quarter immediately prior. Copper output totaled 34,557 metric tons, down from 34,763 tons in the previous quarter, it said.

Newcrest is Australia's biggest gold miner by market value and one of the world's largest gold-producing companies.

The miner said it expects to record costs associated with managing the Covid-19 pandemic totaling roughly $30 million for the six months through December. It revised higher an earlier annual projection to $60-$70 million, from $30-$40 million, citing more extensive testing, longer quarantining periods, roster and other labor costs, and other preventative measures.

Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-27-21 1711ET