OREANDA-NEWS. Platinum sales by OJSC “Norilsk Nickel” and its subsidiaries increased by 29% from USD 864 million in 2005 to USD 1,116 million in 2006, the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) goes.

Sales of platinum produced by the Group in Russia increased by 24% from USD 683 million in 2005 to USD 850 million in 2006.

The increase is explained mainly by the growth of the sales price by 26% from USD 901 per ounce in 2005 to USD 1,133 per ounce in 2006; with a slight decline in the physical sales volumes of 1% (8,000 ounces) to 750,000 ounces in 2006.

Platinum sales by Stillwater Mining Company increased by 47% from USD 181 million in 2005 to USD 266 million in 2006. The main growth factor is the increase of sales in physical terms by 51% (110,000 ounces) from 216,000 ounces in 2005 to 326,000 ounces in 2006, which relates primarily to the growth of sales of platinum received from processing secondary material.