Jinchuan out of bidding for Ravensthorpe nickel

SYDNEY, Nov 9 (Reuters) - China's top producer of metal, Jinchuan Group, has dropped out of the bidding for miner BHP Billiton's (BHP.AX) (BLT.L) Ravensthorpe nickel operation in Australia, an Australia associate firm of Jinchuan said on Monday.

Australia-listed Metals X (MLX.AX), owned 14.8 percent by Jinchuan, said the Chinese firm had not been invited to take part in the next stage of the Ravensthorpe sale process. (Reporting by Mark Bendeich; Editing by Jonathan Standing)