Nickel Mine and Smelter Output on the Rise: WBMS Review

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The quarterly review report published by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS) indicates that world nickel production was on the rise during the initial quarter of the current year.

The global mine production in the first quarter was 572 kt nickel contained, which is significantly up from the prior year by 9%. Indonesia accounted for 40% of the global nickel production. The country’s nickel production surged higher by 30% to 229 kt. The output by Russia recorded year-on-year decline by 11% to 46 kt. The Russian output accounted for 8% of the global total. Also, the Australian output was up by 17% at 44 kt.

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On the other hand, New Caledonia suffered significant decline by 32% in production, which totalled 28 kt during Jan-Mar ’21.

The global smelter/refinery production increased by 5% to 585 kt nickel contained. Indonesia reported 35% jump in output to 191 kt, accounting for almost one-third of global production. In second place was China with a production of 129 kt. The country was responsible for nearly 22% of the global refined production. Meantime, Japan’s nickel production was up by 10% to 44 kt. The production by Canada and Australia surged higher by 6% and 12% respectively.

On the contrary, the nickel smelter/refinery production by Finland recorded decline by 17% over the previous year.