Norilsk Nickel, the world’s largest producer of the metal, urged producers to start idling unprofitable operations to fight a surplus that has damped prices and caused losses.

Mr Anton Berlin marketing director at ZAO NormetImpex, a unit of Norilsk Nickel said that “Consecutive quarters of losses should push companies to cut output, which may narrow the nickel surplus 30% to 70,000 tonnes in 2014 from 100,000 tonnes this year.”

Deutsche Bank AG said that nickel, used in stainless steel, tumbled into a bear market in May and is set for a third yearly loss, as demand waned and China increased output of a substitute derived from lower-grade ores. Additions to Chinese nickel pig iron capacity outstrip closures, creating a third consecutive annual surplus in 2013.

Mr Berlin said that “Unfortunately, we don’t see significant changes on the nickel market yet compared with what we had at the start of the year. From 35% to 40% of producers are still loss-making and the gap between supply and demand remains high.”

He said that “We are disappointed that we aren’t seeing capacities closing. International industrial groups are just subsidizing their loss making operations, while other high cost producers are afraid to lose their client base. That delays the decision to cut capacity and doesn’t allow the price to recover.”