Sumitomo Metal Mining

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. is a Japanese non-ferrous metals and materials company headquartered in Tokyo and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker 5713; OTC: SMMYY). One of Japan’s oldest industrial enterprises, it operates integrated mineral resources, smelting and refining, and advanced materials businesses, producing copper, nickel, cobalt, gold and precious metals. Its materials division manufactures rare-earth magnetic materials, thick-film pastes, nickel and copper powders, nickel oxides and sputtering targets used in electronics, batteries and magnets. As a downstream processor and materials maker, Sumitomo Metal Mining supplies critical inputs for electric vehicles, semiconductors and clean-energy technologies, and is a significant producer of battery-grade nickel and cobalt for cathode materials. The company plays an important role in Japan’s strategy to secure stable, diversified supply of critical minerals and rare-earth-bearing materials for advanced manufacturing.

SMM recovers scandium, a rare earth, as an oxide from nickel ore; its 2016 plan put the intermediate step at Taganito HPAL in the Philippines and oxide finishing at its Harima Refinery.