(Updates with closing prices)By Peter HobsonLONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Nickel prices rose to athree-month high on Wednesday as investors worried that one ofthe world's largest producers, Brazilian miner Vale ,could curtail supply in an already tight market.Benchmark nickel on the London Metal Exchange (LME)closed up 1.9 percent at $12,350 a tonne.
The stainless steel ingredient hit more than two-year lowson Jan. 2 as concerns over slowing economic growth in China cutdemand expectations, but it has since rallied around 17 percentas supply deficits reduce exchange inventories.
Iron ore and nickel producer Vale on Wednesday said it wouldsacrifice production for safety after a tailings dam burst inBrazil last week, killing at least 84 people. The news pushed Chinese iron ore futures to their highest innearly 17 months and stirred the nickel market. "There is a bit of concern that there could be some impacton Vale's nickel assets," Deutsche Bank analyst Nick Snowdonsaid.
But it was unclear what, if any, effect there would be onVale's nickel output, Snowdon said, adding he expected supplyshortfalls both this year and in 2020 and nickel prices aroundcurrent levels were justified.
Vale produced 288,200 tonnes of nickel in 2017, around 14percent of total global output, of which around 25,000 tonnes ismined in Brazil.
NICKEL STOCKS: At 202,032 tonnes inventories of nickel inLME-registered warehouses are down from around 370,000 tonnes atthe start of 2018 and near the lowest since 2013. SPREADS: Suggesting that availability of nearby metal istightening, the discount of cash nickel compared to the threemonth contract has shrunk from around $95 a tonne in July toaround $60. WARRANTS: One entity holds between 50 and 79 percent of LMEnickel warrants, increasing concerns over short supplies. TRADE TALKS: The United States and China launch a criticalround of trade talks on Wednesday amid deep differences thatwill make it difficult to reach a deal before a March 2 U.S.tariff hike. NORILSK: Russia's Norilsk Nickel said on Wednesdayits output of nickel from Russian raw material would increase in2019 to 220,000-225,000 tonnes from 216,856 tonnes in 2018. COPPER: LME copper ended up 1.4 percent at $6,136 atonne after 12,500 tonnes of cancellations cut on-warrant stocksin LME-warehouses to 104,950 tonnes, reversing recent gains andpushing levels towards October's 13-year low of 56,650 tonnes.OTHER METALS: Aluminium finished up 0.8 percent at$1,909.50 a tonne, zinc closed 1.1 percent higher at$2,686, lead gained 0.7 percent to $2,090 and tin rose 0.6 percent to $20,800.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Top base and precious metals analysis - GFMS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Tom Daly;Editing by Alexander Smith and Louise Heavens)