Philippines based major nickel ore supplier Toledo Mining Corporation said only 16,279 tons of nickel laterite ore was mined at the Berong Nickel Mine for the fourth quarter 2008.

Production was reduced in response to the increasing stock levels, deteriorating markets and onset of the non shipping window.

Production and shipping volumes for the full year 2008 was 476,850 tons; in October, 47,995 wet tons of nickel laterite ore was shipped to BHP Billiton in Australia and approximately 297,000 tons of ore was stockpiled at the coast at the end of December awaiting shipment.

However, the company said that demand for nickel laterite or from China is expected to remain depressed in this year.