Minmetals looks for mergers

China Minmetals Corp, the country's largest metal trader, will pursue the overseas mergers and acquisitions route this year to shore up growth, its President Zhou Zhongshu said yesterday.

"New opportunities for overseas investment and acquisitions are emerging as many international mining companies hit by the financial crisis see their market values shrinking," he said.

Minmetals would pursue potential opportunities for overseas mergers and acquisitions in the ferrous and non-ferrous metal sectors and also develop its overseas geology exploration business.