Itronics continues operating in red

Financially struggling Itronics Inc.

said last week it posted a loss of $710,617 in the first quarter compared with a loss of $688,168 in the same period a year earlier.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Reno-based company said its cash situation remains tight it has a $3.66 million deficit in working capital but it's been able to make enough payments that its most significant creditors continue working with the company.

A bright spot, the company said, was a 127 percent increase in fertilizer sales during the first quarter.

The company posted fertilizer sales of $229,500 during the quarter compared with $101,000 a year earlier.

With the higher sales, Itronics said it needs to expand its loading facilities for fertilizer trucks at a cost of $300,000.

The company also is spending $300,000 to add a heat-exchanger system to its Stead manufacturing facility.