URANIUM producer Energy Resources of Australia says full-year production will be towards the lower end of its forecast after delivering a drop in output in the third quarter.

ERA, which produces about 10% of the world's uranium from the Ranger mine in the Northern Territory, said full-year output was "expected to approach the level achieved in 2007".

The company produced 5412 tonnes of uranium oxide in 2007 and has previously forecast output to return to "normal levels" this year of between 5400 tonnes and 5900 tonnes of uranium oxide.