Philippine nickel ore exports down on bad weather

SHANGHAI, Jan 11 (SMM)－ The decline in nickel ore shipments to China from the Philippines was mainly due to bad weather in Tawi-Tawi while the impact of environmental protection issues in Zambales was rather small. News reports suggested that four nickel ore miners in Zambales were involved in local environmental disputes and shipments from the region have been affected. The four companies were Zambales Diversified Metals Corp, Benguet Corp Nickel Mines, LNL Archipelago Minerals and Eramen Minerals. However, SMM understood that the region has had a history of environmental protection measures and nickel ore shipments from Zambales accounted for only 2% of the country’s total exports over the past year. Bad weather in Tawi-Tawi has disrupted cargo loadings in the region since November last year and no more than eight shipments were made in one month, SMM learned.