Major PGM producer reports production drop Jan-Mar in 2012...

とりあえず、先月後半に出てましたメジャーどころの12年最初の四半期の生産動向を
理由は様々なようですが、大手の生産はPt、Pdとも減ってました。

Last month, Major PGM producer released "Production report" in Q1 (Jan-Mar) 2012.
It sees production of platinum and palladium decreased during the quarter than last year.
Please see the news as follow.

【Russia's Norilsk Q1 nickel output up 7 pct y/y】

(Reuters) - Russia's Norilsk Nickel's , the world's largest nickel and palladium miner, said on Friday its first-quarter 2012 nickel output rose, year-on-year, while production of other its core metals fell.
Nickel output rose thanks to increased output from the Russian divisions, the launch of Australian operation Lake Johnston, and increased an loading rate at Norilsk Nickel's Harjavalta refinery in Finland.
Output of nickel rose by 7 percent to 75,824 tonnes in the first quarter, while copper production reached 88,456 tonnes and was down 6 percent.
The Arctic mining giant attributed a reduction in copper production to a scheduled decrease in output from the Russian divisions.

In platinum group metals, palladium output fell by 5 percent to 649,000 troy ounces and platinum production decreased by 2 percent to 166,000 ounces.

"Reduction of palladium output reflects technical decrease of production from Russian Divisions due to accumulation of unfinished stockpile," Norilsk said, adding that it was partially compensated by the growth of metal production at Harjavalta.

Norilsk shares in Moscow rose by 1.97 percent by 1450 GMT, while its GDRs in London added 2.249 percent.


【Amplats Q1 output down, 2012 production guidance unchanged 】

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) says it will hit its full-year production target for 2012, despite a sharp fall in output in the first three months of the year.

The world's largest primary platinum producer reported a 24% dip in Q1 production of refined platinum to 402,800 oz, blaming planned convertor plant maintenance at Rustenburg.
Platinum equivalent refined production increased by five per cent to 593,200 oz, due to a lower number of safety stoppages, the miner said.

There were 13 safety halts in the first quarter of 2012, compared with 32 in the preceding quarter.

Amplats also attributed this rise to a strong performance from the Mogalakwena open pit mine and ramp-up of the Unki mine.
"Increased production at  Unki, Mogalakwena, Khuseleka,  Khomanani, Siphumelele, Bathopele,  Thembelani, Dishaba and Union South mines was partly offset by lower volumes from Tumela and Union North mines," Amplats said in a release.
"Mogalakwena's head grade and recoveries improved by 5% and 24% respectively compared with Q1 2011 as a result of the improved concentration process."
Platinum production in South Africa was down in Q1, with the industry hit by a government safety drive and a six-week strike at number two producer Impala Platinum.

Amplats reported refined production of palladium and rhodium decreased by 18% and 37% respectively, citing a different source mix from operations and different pipeline processing times for each metal.