SYDNEY, Apr 11, 2012 (Dow Jones) -- PanAust Ltd. (PNA.AU) on Thursday reported a 4.6% rise in on-year first quarter production and stuck to annual output and cost guidance for its Phu Kham mine in Laos.

Copper concentrate production in the three months to March 31 was 15,772 metric tons. The company didn't provide any comparison figures in its quarterly report but a year earlier it said first quarter production was 15,029 tons.

It maintained 2012 copper production guidance for Phu Kham at between 63,000 and 65,000 tons and said commissioning of an upgrade of the mine is scheduled to commence in June. The upgrade is expected to help copper production grow to between 65,000 and 70,000 tons in 2013 and to between 70,000 and 75,000 tons in 2014, it said.

PanAust produced 14,660 ounces of gold in the first quarter and 138,818 ounces of silver.