Sumitomo to raise ferronickel output by 8.5% in 2019/20 fiscal year

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co.Asian Metal Copyright, Ltd.Asian Metal Copyright, Ltd., Japan's second-largest copper smelter, said it planned to produce 420,000 tons of refined copper in fiscal year 2019/20, down by 7.Asian Metal Copyright, Japan's second-largest copper smelter, said it planned to produce 420,000 tons of refined copper in fiscal year 201920, down by 7.Asian Metal Copyright7% YOY.Asian Metal Copyright, Ltd.Asian Metal Copyright A spokesman from the company said the drop was due to the planned 35-day maintenance of one of its refining furnace from the end of October.

As Japan's largest nickel smelter, Sumitomo expects a 2.3% year-on-year increase in nickel cathode production this year to meet increasing demand.

The company also plans to raise the output of ferronickel by 8.5%.Asian Metal Copyright The company also plans to raise the output of ferronickel by 8.Asian Metal Copyright Ferronickel, an alloy made from iron ore and nickel, is the raw material for making stainless steel.

                               Production plan for fiscal year 2019/20 (ton)

	H1 FY2019/20	H1 FY2018/19	H2 FY2019/20	H2 FY2018/19
copper cathode	210,000	230,640	210,000	224,300
nickel cathode	31,300	28,200	31,300	33,000
ferronickel	6,700	6,156	6,600	6,100

.Asian Metal Copyright Ferronickel, an alloy made from iron ore and nickel, is the raw material for making stainless steelAsian Metal Copyright