Toledo Mining Corp. PLC (TMC.LN) said Wednesday it resumed shipping nickel laterite ore to BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP.AU) this week from its stockpiles and is considering restarting mining operations later in the year.

Toledo said it shipped 47,757 wet metric tons of nickel laterite ore from its Berong nickel mine on Palawan Island, Philippines on May 25 and a second shipment is scheduled for mid-June.

The shipment came from its 300,000 ton stockpile while the mine remains on care and maintenance.

"Although the Berong mine remains on care and maintenance, the resumption of shipments to BHP, industry reports of significant reductions in ore inventories at Chinese ports and a gradually improving trend in the nickel price, offer some encouragement for a resumption of mining operations in the longer term," the company said.

-By Devon Maylie, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9483; devon.maylie@dowjones.com