JOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Gold Fields

said on Friday it expects to produce much less gold this year

than previously forecast, as weather-related challenges weigh

down production at a new mine in Chile.

The Johannesburg-based gold miner said its 2024 output has

been scaled down to between 2 million ounces and 2.15 million

ounces from a previous forecast of about 2.3 million ounces.

Gold Fields' profit slumped to $320.7 million in the first

half of this year ended June 30, compared with about $458

million a year ago, taking a hit from declining gold output.

It also faced production setbacks at South Deep mine in

South Africa during the reported period.

Earlier this month, Gold Fields agreed to buy Canadian miner

Osisko for about $1.57 billion cash, in a deal that

will help it grow in the Americas region.

The operational performance was "disappointing", CEO Mike

Fraser said in a statement, adding that the decline in output

during the first half was due to unplanned events and delays in

raising output at the new Salares Norte mine in Chile.