Shanghai Nonferrous Metals News
SMM: China imported 5.99 mln t of nickel laterite in November 2019, down 858.9 kt or 12.5% m-o-m but up 84.1% y-o-y. Of the total, 3.34 mln t was imported from Indonesia, down 7.4% m-o-m, and up 178.37% y-o-y. China’s monthly nickel laterite imports from Indonesia have been more than 3 mln t since September, after the Indonesian government announced that it would ban laterite exports in 2020. China’s nickel laterite imports from Philippines were 2.48 mln t, down 26.5% m-o-m but up 32.07% y-o-y. The Philippine’s nickel laterite shipments were interrupted by the rainy season in October.
According to SMM, Indonesian’s nickel laterite shipments in December are likely to decline instead of increasing as previously predicted. Meanwhile, with the rainy season continuing and ore depletion issues at Tawi-Tawi, exports from the Philippines are expected to drop in December. As a result, no more than 10 nickel laterite shipments are expected in December.
