Norilsk Q1 nickel output rises, palladium falls
Russian metals giant Norilsk Nickel said on Wednesday first-quarter 2008 nickel output rose to 74,572 tonnes from 60,913 tonnes in the same quarter of 2007.
Palladium output in the first quarter was 597,000 ounces, Norilsk said in a statement. First-quarter palladium output in 2007 was 716,000 ounces.
The palladium figures did not include output by Norilsk’s U.S. subsidiary, Stillwater Mining Co .
Copper output in the first quarter of 2008 was 103,990 tonnes, up from 101,049 tonnes a year ago.
Platinum production was 138,000 ounces in the first quarter, the company said, without providing a year-earlier comparison.
Norilsk, the world’s largest nickel and palladium miner, kept its production forecasts for the whole of 2008 unchanged.
