07:46 AM EDT, 07/13/2020 (MT Newswires) -- B2Gold Corp. (BTO.TO, BTG) at last look gained near 2% in U.S. pre-market trading -- taking it nearer to 52 week high levels -- and so may recover some of last Friday's 0.6% loss on the TSX after announcing Monday its gold production and gold revenue for the second quarter and first half of 2020.

Among quarterly highlights it booked a 65% yearly rise in second-quarter revenue to a record US$442 million (excluding discontinued operations)..The company credited the increase to a 31% improvement in average realized gold price to US$1,719 per ounce and a 26% climb in gold sales to 257,100 ounces.

Also, consolidated gold production grew 15% year over year to 239,574 ounces, above budget by 3% (7,327 ounces), while total gold production, which includes attributable output from Calibre Mining Corp. (CXB.TO), reached 241,593 ounces.

Among half year highlights, the company reported a 55% yearly increase in first-half consolidated gold revenue to a record US$822 million and posted a 20% jump in consolidated gold production to 490,206 ounces. Total gold production came in at 506,455 ounces. Based on current assumptions, including a gold price of $1,700 per ounce for the balance of 2020, the company expects to generate cashflows from operating activities of approximately $850 million in 2020

B2Gold said it "remains well positioned for continued strong operational and financial performance." Total consolidated production guidance remains at between 1,000,000 and 1,055,000 ounces of gold; total consolidated cash operating costs are forecast to be between $415 and $455 per ounce and total consolidated all-in sustaining costs are forecast to be between $780 and $820 per ounce.