Sherritt posts loss on lower nickel sales, price
posted on
Oct 31, 2012 04:05PM
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The miner's net loss was C$22.6 million, or 8 Canadian cents a share, in the quarter ended Sept 30. That compared with a profit of C$45.5 million, or 16 cents a share, in the year-earlier period.
Adjusted to remove one-time items, earnings were 3 Canadian cents a share, compared with average analyst expectations of 9 Canadian cents a shares, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Revenue dropped 9 percent to C$422.2 million as nickel sales volumes fell 9 percent to 8.6 million pounds and thermal coal sales volumes fell 7 percent to 8.5 million tonnes.
Sherritt said the ramp-up at its Ambatovy nickel mine in Madagascar is progressing, with full commercial production expected in early 2013. The project, which is a joint venture with Sumitomo Corp (:8053.T) and Korea Resources Corp (:KOREC.UL), is on track to remain within its $5.5 billion capital budget.
Sherritt owns nickel operations in Canada, Cuba, Indonesia and Madagascar, along with numerous coal mines in Canada and energy projects in Cuba.
(Reporting by Julie Gordon; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)