= Production is 80,471 tons, up by 12% from prior year =

On May 12, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. announced its consolidated settlement of accounts in the fiscal year 2014 (from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015).

This announcement shows the production volume of nickel (in pure Ni equivalent) in the fiscal year 2014 was 80,471 tons (Electrolytic Nickel: 57,200 tons, Ferronickel: 23,271 tons), up by 12.3% from 71,662 tons (Electrolytic Nickel: 49,991 tons, Ferronickel: 21,671 tons) in the prior year.

The reasons for the increased production are provided such as (1) The production volume is up owing to the increased annual production capacity of electrolytic nickel to 65,000 tons, (2) The operation by Coral Bay Nickel which treats low-grade nickel oxide ores by using high pressure acid leach (HPAL) in Philippines is going well and the production volume is same as the prior period and (3) Taganito HPAL Nickel started a full-scale production and the operation is going well.

Besides, the sales volume of nickel was 79,980 tons, up by 18.0% from 67,768 tons in the prior year.

• [Editor:Juan]