14 Apr 2010 17:04
Norilsk Nickel remains world's #1 nickel producer in 2009
LONDON. April 14 (Interfax) - MMC Norilsk Nickel maintained its first-place standing among world nickel producers last year, the British research firm CRU announced.
The Russian company produced 347,672 tonnes of nickel in 2009, CRU reported.
China's Jinchuan Group was ranked second with 130,050 tonnes of nickel output, and third was Australian mining giant BHP Billiton with 118,100 tonnes.
Production by the world's top ten nickel producers weighed in at 989,447 tonnes last year.
World's top nickel producers in 2009 (output in tonnes):
| Rank | Company | Country | Output |
| 1 | MMC Norilsk Nickel | Russia | 347,672 |
| 2 | Jinchuan Group | China | 130,050 |
| 3 | BHP Billiton | Australia | 118,100 |
| 4 | Vale | Brazil | 98,707 |
| 5 | Xstrata | Switzerland | 88,577 |
| 6 | Eramet | France | 52,200 |
| 7 | Sumitomo Metal Mining | Japan | 49,158 |
| 8 | Anglo American | Britain | 38,406 |
| 9 | Sherritt International | Canada | 33,600 |
| 10 | Minara Resources | Australia | 32,977 |