Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), the largest mining company in Kazakhstan, has returned to pre-crisis production levels for ferrochrome and iron ore as demand from China rises.

Production of ferrochrome, a key ingredient in stainless steel, continued to recover from its sharp collapse in the final months of 2008. In the three months to September 30 ferrochrome production rose 25 per cent compared to the previous quarter. Iron ore production rose 27 per cent quarter on quarter, with Kazakh operations running at full capacity.