[ferro-alloys.com]In 3Q18, consolidated nickel production amounted to 54 kt, up 9% quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q).Nickel output from own Russian feed also increased 9% q-o-q to 53 kt. The growth was mainly attributed to increased production at Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta as the refinery returned to normal operations after scheduled repair works were carried out in 2Q18.

In 9M18, nickel output stayed almost flat year-on-year (y-o-y) at 157 kt. Nickel output from own Russian feed amounted to 156 kt, up 3% y-o-y. The growth was attributed to the completion of the main phase of downstream reconfiguration, increased mining and processing volumes of ore at the Polar division and improvement of operating efficiency of the Company’s concentrators.

In 3Q18, nickel output at Kola MMC stayed almost flat at 38 kt (down 1% q-o-q). In 9M18, nickel output at Kola MMC amounted to 113 kt, down 1% y-o-y. The decrease was driven primarily by the reduction of low-margin processing of third-party feed.

In 3Q18, nickel output at Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta increased 40% q-o-q to 16 kt, which were mostly produced from the Company’s own Russian feed (up 41% q-o-q). The increase was mainly attributed to a low base effect of 2Q18, when refinery was undergoing annual scheduled repair works. In 9M18, nickel output amounted to 44 kt, up 4% y-o-y. The increase was attributed to higher processing volumes of Russian feed as a result of the downstream reconfiguration.

(Norilsk Official Website)

• [Editor:王可]