Norilsk Nickel said that it had cut its nickel output forecast for 2009 to 284,000 tonnes from 285,000 to 300,000 tonnes but gave no reason. It also raised its 2009 forecast for palladium production to 2.850 million ounces from 2.685 to 2.710 million ounces and platinum output to 668,000 ounces from 615,000 to 640,000 ounces.

Norilsk said in a statement that its output of nickel declined in the first nine months of this year to 207,454 tonnes from 218,474 tonnes in the same period a year ago. The fall was due to repairs at its Harjavalta plant in Finland in July and August and a halt at its Australian assets.

Norilsk said that nickel production in the third quarter of 2009 was 66,703 tonnes, down from 75,067 tonnes in the third quarter of 2008.

(Sourced from www.reuters.com)