Global nickel mine production in the first quarter of the year grew by 9pc to 572,000mt compared to the same quarter last year, according to the World Bureau Of Metal Statistics (WBMS).
Nickel mine production in Indonesia increased to 229,000mt in Q1 2021 compared to 177,000mt during the same year-ago period. Russia and Canada’s output, however, dropped to 46,000mt and 40,000mt in Q1 2021 compared to 51,000mt and 44,000mt respectively in Q1 2020.
The Philippines and Australia’s nickel mine production grew to 44,000mt each in the January to March period compared with 31,000mt and 37,000mt respectively in the same period last year. China’s nickel mine production dropped to 25,000mt in Q1 2021 compared to 26,000mt in Q1 2020.
New Caledonia’s nickel mine output fell to 28,000mt in Q1 2021 from 42,000mt in Q1 2020 while Brazil’s production saw an increase to 18,000mt in Q1 2021 from 16,000mt in the same quarter last year. Cuba’s nickel mine output rose to 13,000mt in Q1 2021 from 12,000mt in Q1 2020 while other countries saw a decline to 85,000mt in Q1 2021 from 91,000mt in Q1 2020.
Global nickel smelter/refined production in the first quarter of 2021 increased by 5pc to 585,000mt compared to Q1 2020.
In Q1 2021, Indonesia’s nickel smelter/refined output rose to 191,000mt from 141,000mt and China’s production decreased to 129,000mt from 132,000mt in Q1 2020. Japan’s nickel smelter/refined production rose to 44,000mt in Q1 2021 from 40,000mt in Q1 2020 and Canada’s nickel smelter/refined output in the first quarter of the year rose to 33,000mt compared to 31,000mt in the same quarter last year. WBMS stated.
Australia’s nickel smelter/refined output increased to 29,000mt in Q1 2021 compared to 25,000mt in Q1 2020 while Russia’s production saw a drop to 26,000mt in Q1 2021 from 33,000mt in Q1 2020. Norway and Brazil’s nickel smelter/refined production in Q1 2021 grew to 23,000mt and 16,000mt from 22,000mt and 14,000mt respectively in Q1 2020. Finland’s production dropped to 14,000mt in Q1 2021 from 17,000mt and other countries saw a drop in output to 80,000mt from 101,000mt in Q1 2020.
Global nickel usage in the first quarter of the year increased by 14pc to 602,000mt from the same period in 2020, WBMS reported.
China’s nickel usage in Q1 2021 rose to 311,000mt compared to 268,000mt in Q1 2020. Indonesia’s and South Korea’s usage also rose to 75,000mt and 27,000mt in Q1 2020 from 42,000mt and 20,000mt respectively in the same quarter last year.
India’s nickel usage in Q1 2021 grew to 26,000mt from 21,000mt in Q1 2020 and the USA’s usage dropped to 25,000mt in Q1 2021 from 27,000mt annually. Germany’s nickel consumption also fell to 13,000mt in Q1 2021 from 15,000mt in Q1 2020 while Italy’s usage grew to 12,000mt in the first quarter of 2020 from 10,000mt in the same quarter last year.
Taiwan’s nickel usage in Q1 2021 dropped to 9,000mt from 10,000mt in Q1 2020 while other countries saw a drop to 69,000mt in the first quarter of 2021 from 75,000mt in the same quarter in 2020, WBMS reported.