MOSCOW (Dow Jones)--Russian mining giant OAO Norilsk Nickel (NILSY, GMKN.RS) said Thursday its nickel and copper production in the first half of 2011 sank from a year earlier because of an interruption to marine shipping that affected its Russian division.
Nickel output in the first half fell to 135,672 metric tons, the company said, without giving the year-earlier figure. In the second quarter, nickel production dropped to 64,694 tons, from 70,978 tons in the first quarter.
Copper production sank to 90,451 tons in the second quarter, from 93,979 tons in the first quarter. Palladium output climbed to 744,000 troy ounces, from 681,000, while platinum output rose to 190,000 ounces, from 170,000.