MOSCOW, November 28 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Norilsk Nickel cut nickel production by 0.5% in January-September 2008 to 218,000 tons on the same period last year, and increased copper production by 1.3% to 316,000 tons, the company said Friday.

Palladium production fell in the same period by almost 10% to 2.12 million ounces, while platinum dropped 11.3% to 495,000 ounces.

Norilsk Nickel is Russia's largest diversified mining and metals company, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium, and one of the world's largest producers of platinum, rhodium, copper and cobalt.

It also produces gold, silver, tellurium, selenium, iridium and ruthenium.