Nickel Market Report June 2017

Content

Abstract 2
1 Company news 2
1.1 Weiye Nickel reduces output in June 2
1.2 Zhongtai Nickel resumes ferronickel production 2
1.3 Beixin Inorganic Chemical reduces nickel sulfate output 2
2 Domestic market review 2
2.1 Nickel cathode prices rise after declining 2
2.2 Ferronickel prices edge up 2
2.3 Nickel sulfate prices down continuously 3
2.4 Lateritic nickel ore prices still soft at ports 3
3 International market review 4
3.1 LME nickel prices strengthen further 4
3.2 Philippine lateritic nickel ore prices down continuously 4
4 Production and stocks data 5
4.1 China’s nickel cathode output up by 5% MOM in June 5
4.2 Chinese ferronickel output up by 36.4% MOM in June 5
4.3 China’s nickel sulfate output down by 1.8% MOM in June 6
4.4 Chinese lateritic nickel ore stocks up by 22% MOM in June 6
5 Import data analysis 7
5.1 China’s refined nickel and nickel alloy imports down by 9.8% MOM in May 2017 7
5.2 China’s ferronickel imports up by 91.1% MOM in May 8
5.3 China’s lateritic nickel ore imports up by 51.3% MOM in May 9
5.4 China’s nickel hydrometallurgy intermediates imports up by 38.6% MOM in May 10
6 Market outlook 11
6.1 Nickel cathode 11
6.2 Ferronickel 11
6.3 Nickel salt 11
6.4 Lateritic nickel ore 11

Graph content

Graph 1 Jinchuan nickel cathode price in the Chinese spot market from May to June (RMB/t) 2
Graph 2 Norilsk nickel cathode prices in the Chinese spot market from May to June (RMB/t) 2
Graph 3 Inco nickel prices in the Chinese spot market from May to June (RMB/t) 2
Graph 4 Chinese ferronickel 10%min prices from May to June (RMB/mtu, delivered to plants) 3
Graph 5 Chinese ferronickel 1.5% prices from May to June (RMB/t, ex works) 3
Graph 6 Chinese battery grade nickel sulfate prices from May to June (RMB/t) 3
Graph 7 Chinese NCM 523 precursor prices from May to June (RMB/t) 3
Graph 8 Chinese electroplating grade nickel sulfate prices from May to June (RMB/t) 3
Graph 9 Chinese lateritic nickel ore 1.8%min prices at ports from May to June (RMB/t) 4
Graph 10 Chinese lateritic nickel ore 1.5%min at ports from May to June (RMB/t) 4
Graph 11 LME nickel prices from May to June (USD/t) 4
Graph 12 Stocks for LME nickel from May to June (t) 4
Graph 13 Prices for Philippine origin lateritic nickel ore 1.5% on CIF China basis from May to June (USD/t) 5
Graph 14 Prices for Philippine origin lateritic nickel ore 1.8% on CIF China basis from May to June (USD/t) 5
Graph 15 China’s nickel cathode output from Jan 2016 to June 2017 by month (t) 5
Graph 16 China’s ferronickel output from Jan 2016 to Jun 2017 by month (kt) 5
Graph 17 China’s ferronickel output from Jan 2016 to June 2017 by province and month (kt) 6
Graph 18 China’s nickel sulfate output by month from Jan 2016 to June 2017 (t) 6
Graph 19 China’s lateritic nickel ore stocks from Jan 2016 to June 2017 (kt) 6
Graph 20 China’s monthly imports for refined nickel from Jan 2016 to May 2017 (t) 7
Graph 21 China’s monthly imports for refined nickel from Jan 2016 to May 2017 (t) 7
Graph 22 China’s monthly imports for ferronickel from Jan 2016 to May 2017 (10kt) 8
Graph 23 China’s monthly imports of ferronickel by country in 2016-2017 ( tonne ) 8
Graph 24 China’s monthly imports for lateritic nickel ore from Jan 2016 to May 2017 (10kt) 9
Graph 25 China’s monthly imports for Philippines origin lateritic nickel ore from Jan 2016 to May 2017 (10kt) 9
Graph 26 China’s monthly imports for nickel hydrometallurgy intermediates from Jan 2016 to May 2017 (t) 10
Graph 27 China’s nickel hydrometallurgy intermediates from Jan 2016 to May 2017 (t) 10

Table content

Table 1 China’s NCM precursor output statistics (Unit: t) 6
Table 2 Statistics on imported refined nickel of China in May 7
Table 3 China’s top 10 importers for refined nickel in May 8
Table 4 China’s imports for ferronickel in May 2017 8
Table 5 China’s top 5 ferronickel importers in May 9
Table 6 China’s imports for nickel ore in May 9
Table 7 China’s top 10 importers for nickel ore in May 10

.Asian Metal Copyright5% prices from May to June RMBt, ex works 3 Graph 6 Chinese battery grade nickel sulfate prices from May to June RMBt 3 Graph 7 Chinese NCM 523 precursor prices from May to June RMBt 3 Graph 8 Chinese electroplating grade nickel sulfate prices from May to June RMBt 3 Graph 9 Chinese lateritic nickel ore 1Asian Metal Copyright