Nickel

Nickel is a silvery-white, corrosion-resistant metal with a high melting point, making it essential for various industrial applications. It’s primarily sourced from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Russia. The key industries that rely on nickel include stainless steel production, battery manufacturing, and nickel alloy production. Its strength, durability, and ability to resist oxidation make it vital in these sectors.

Sub-Category	Abbreviation	Core Content Range	Size Range
Ferro Nickel Molybdenum	Fe-Ni-Mo	Various	n/a
Ferronickel	FeNi	Ni 8-70%	0-1200 mm
Nickel Alloys Scrap	Ni Alloys Scrap	Ni 50-100%	n/a
Nickel Briquettes	Ni Briqs	Ni 90-100%	3-50 mm
Nickel Chips	Ni Chips	Ni 99-100%	n/a
Nickel Cut Cathodes 1X1	Ni 1×1	Ni 99.4-100%	2.5×2.5cm
Nickel Cut Cathodes 2X2	Ni 2×2	Ni 99-100%	5x5cm
Nickel Cut Cathodes 4X4	Ni 4×4	Ni 97-100%	10x10cm
Nickel Discs	Ni Discs	Ni 99.5-100%	3-20 mm
Nickel Full Plate Cathodes	Ni Caths	Ni 99-100%	100x100cm
Nickel Granules	Ni Granules	Ni 96-100%	3-80 mm
Nickel Offcuts	Ni Offcuts	Ni 97-100%	n/a
Nickel Pellets	Ni Pellets	Ni 98.5-100%	10-25 mm
Nickel Pig Iron	NPI	Ni 9-15%	n/a
Nickel Powder	Ni Powder	Ni 99.8-100%	0-1 mm
Nickel Rounds	Ni Rounds	Ni 97-100%	25×10 mm
Nickel Sulphate	NiSO4	Various	0-10mm
Nickel Yttrium	NY	Various	n/a

Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.

Metalshub provides producers and consumers of nickel with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects >2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of nickel and buyers to discover new suppliers of nickel.

For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows steel mills, foundries and other consumers to digitalise its procurement process to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows miners, traders and other sellers to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory and optimise their sales book.

Nickel in its pure metal form with a nickel content of above 99.8% is traded on two exchanges:

1. London Metal Exchange (LME): The LME offers futures contracts for nickel, which are widely used as a benchmark for global tin pricing. These contracts help manage price volatility in the metal market​ (LME).
2. Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE): The SHFE also offers futures contracts, which are widely traded in China and serve as a benchmark for the nickel market in Asia. (SHFE)

Nickel prices vary based on the type and form of nickel traded. Nickel metal with a nickel content of >99.8% comes in the form of briquettes, cathodes or pellets. It is usually sold at a premium to the exchange price in the physical market. Ferronickel and Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) are alloys of iron and nickel. Depending on the chemical specifications and the market situation, these products are sold at a premium or a discount to the exchange price. Nickel sulphate, which is used for battery manufacturing, also can be sold at a premium or a discount to the exchange price for nickel depending on supply and demand in the physical market.

The top five nickel-producing countries are:

1. Indonesia – ~40% of global supply, focused on mining laterite ore and producing nickel pig iron.
2. Philippines – ~15%, primarily exporting raw nickel ore.
3. Russia – ~10%, known for refined products like cathodes.
4. New Caledonia – ~<10%, exporting nickel ore to Asia and producing ferronickel.
5. Canada – ~<10%, with production focused on both mining and refining high-purity nickel.

Some of the key nickel-producing companies supplying to the market are:

1. Vale S.A. (Brazil) – ~<15% of global nickel production, supplying high-purity nickel for the battery and steel industries.
2. Norilsk Nickel (Russia) – ~10%, producing refined products like nickel briquettes, pellets, and cathodes.
3. Jinchuan Group (China) – ~10%, a major player in producing nickel and nickel alloys.
4. Glencore (Switzerland) – ~5%, operating in mining and refining operations globally.
5. BHP (Australia) – ~5%, focusing on nickel briquettes and nickel sulphate production.

Nickel is extracted from two main ore types: laterites and sulphides. Laterite ore is common in Indonesia and the Philippines, while sulphide ore is prevalent in Russia and Canada. Mining involves removing ore from open pits or underground mines.

Nickel production follows two primary methods:

• Pyrometallurgical processes: Used mainly for laterite ores to produce ferronickel and Nickel Pig Iron (NPI), which are essential for stainless steel manufacturing.
• Hydrometallurgical processes: Applied to sulphide ores to produce high-purity products like nickel briquettes, nickel powder, and nickel sulphate, vital for battery production.

Nickel’s main application is in stainless steel (~68%), where it improves strength and corrosion resistance. It is also crucial in battery production (~15%), particularly for electric vehicles. Other uses include nickel alloys (~7%), electroplating, and high-performance materials.

Sub-categories of nickel and their applications:

• Ferronickel: Used in the steel industry for stainless steel production.
• Nickel briquettes: High-purity nickel used in batteries, electroplating, and other industrial processes.
• Nickel Pig Iron: Nickel variant used for the stainless steel industry, especially in Asia.
• Nickel sulphate: Essential for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles.
• Nickel cathodes and cut cathodes (1×1, 2×2, 4×4): High-purity cathodes used in electronics, plating and foundries.
• Nickel rounds: Used in electroplating.
• Nickel powder: Utilised in electronics and additive manufacturing (3D printing).

Nickel’s diverse applications across steel, battery, and alloy industries maintain its critical role in global production and manufacturing.