MOSCOW, April 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Norilsk Nickel's nickel output increased 22% to 74,572 metric tons in the first quarter of 2008 year-on-year, the world's largest nickel and palladium company said in a statement on Wednesday.
The company's commercial copper output went up 3% in the reporting period to 104,000 metric tons, year-on-year.
Norilsk Nickel also produced 597,000 ounces of palladium, down 17% against the same period last year, and 138,000 ounces of platinum, down 18.4% against the first quarter of 2007.
Norilsk Nickel accounts for over 20% of global nickel output. It also produces more than 10% of the world's cobalt and 3% of global cooper. The company produces around 96% of Russian nickel, 55% of the country's copper and 95% of its cobalt.
