Reuters reported that Nickel Asia Corporation, the Philippines' biggest nickel miner by output and sales, is looking to ramp up ore exports this year after record sales in 2014 as market expectations of a global supply shortfall persist.

The miner, partly owned by Japan's Sumitomo Metal Mining Company Limited, shipped 17.8 million WMT in 2014 to its Japanese and Chinese customers, up 28% from a year earlier and exceeding its target of 17 million WMT.

Mr Gerardo Brimo President & CEO of Nickel Asia said that "We will always try to do better. Nickel Asia was a standout in the Philippine stock market last year, with its shares gaining more than 200% as ore sales boomed after the then world's top nickel ore exporter, Indonesia, banned exports.

He said that Nickel Asia shares rose 3.2% but have fallen more than 12% this year, retreating from a record high of 32.85 pesos hit on January 14.

He said that the Philippines in 2014 became the biggest ore supplier to China's producers of nickel pig iron after Indonesia banned exports. It remains uncertain until when the one-year-old ban will remain in place.

• [Editor:Juan]