Shanghai Nonferrous Metals News
SMM: China imported 4.32 mln t of nickel laterite in December 2019. Of this figure imports from Indonesia were 2.47 mln t, down 26% m-o-m but up 101% y-o-y. China’s nickel laterite imports from Indonesia have been rising rapidly, with the monthly amount climbing by 100% y-o-y since September 2019 after the Indonesian government brought forward a ban on laterite exports to December 2019. China imported 1.54 mln t of nickel laterite from The Philippines in December, down 38% m-o-m but up 76% y-o-y.
SMM forecast China’s nickel laterite imports will continue to drop in January 2020 due to the implementation of the ban on exports in Indonesia and continued rainy weather in The Philippines curbing shipments.
