BHP Billiton says increased production at a new central Queensland mine helped drive a strong third quarter production result for the company.

In its quarterly production and sales report, BHP Billiton says metallurgical coal production has increased by 14 per cent in the last quarter compared to 2012.

However, compared to the April to June figures, overall coal production is down 6 per cent.

The mining giant says it extracted more than 10 million tonnes of coal between July and September.

Five per cent of the total was produced at the new Daunia mine at Coppabella, south-west of Mackay, which was officially opened last month.

The Goonyella mine near Moranbah, south-west of Mackay, continues to be the strongest performing site for BHP, producing 1.7 million tonnes of coal.

The report also says the new Caval Ridge mine, in the northern section of the Bowen Basin, south-west of Mackay, is 86 per cent complete, operating on budget and is on schedule to begin production next year.