The Philippines exported 1.09mn mt nickel ore in April, down by 68pc from the prior-year period due to low demand from the largest stainless steel producer and exporter, China, amid COVID-19 related global demand disruptions.
China, the largest importer of nickel ore from the Philippines, imported 1.04mn mt of the raw material, down by 69pc from the prior-year period. Japan was the only other importer and accounted for the remaining 51,500mt nickel ore, down by 49pc from April 2019.
Nickel ore miners in the Philippines expect demand to further drop over the second half of the year due to recession and continued disruptions in global demand.