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Nickel: World Plant Production, By Country And Product

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TABLE 11
NICKEL:� WORLD PLANT PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY AND PRODUCT1, 2
(Metric tons of contained nickel)
 
Country and product3   2001   2002   2003   2004   2005  
Australia:
Metal 116,900 120,800 115,800 111,500 r 113,000 p
Unspecified4 11,200   11,400   13,600   10,700 r 9,000 p
Total 128,100 132,200 129,400 122,200 r 122,000 p
Austria, ferronickele 1,600   1,500   1,500   1,500   1,500  
Brazil:5
Ferronickel 5,768 6,011 6,409 6,493 r 6,500 p
Metal 17,663   17,676   18,155   19,742 r 19,750 p
Total 23,431 23,687 24,564 26,235 r 26,250 p
Canada, unspecified6 140,591 144,476 124,418 151,518 139,683 p
China, metale 49,700 52,400 64,700 75,800 r 95,000
Colombia, ferronickel 38,438 43,987 47,868 48,818 r 52,749
Cuba, oxide sinter and oxides7 40,750 r 38,751 r 35,605 r 38,231 r 38,200 e
Dominican Republic, ferronickel 21,661   23,303   27,227   29,477   28,668 p
Finland:
Metal 51,275 49,151 45,417 r 40,088 r 40,000 e
Chemicals 3,700 3,600 3,600 3,500 3,500 e
Total 54,975   52,751   49,017 r 43,588 r 43,500 e
France:
Metal 11,033 9,444 9,138 10,103 10,684
Chemicalse 2,000 8 2,000   2,000   2,000   2,000  
Total9 13,033 11,444 11,138 12,103 12,684 p
Greece, ferronickel 16,870 19,229 18,000 18,115 19,235 p
Indonesia, ferronickel 10,302   8,804   8,933   7,945   7,338  
Japan:
Ferronickel 68,113 74,418 75,399 74,261 77,600 e
Metal 32,526 32,303 r 34,991 32,769 r 29,399
Oxide sinter 50,771 48,950 52,663 r 60,285 r 58,100 e
Chemicals 2,394   1,820   2,084   2,082   2,208  
Total 153,804 157,491 r 165,137 r 169,397 r 167,307
Korea, Republic of, metal (10) (10) (10) (10) (10)
Macedonia, ferronickel 2,970 e 5,149 5,555 5,300 r 8,100
Morocco, chemicals 151 109 126 130 r 130 e
New Caledonia, ferronickel 45,912 48,650 50,666 43,016 46,738 p
Norway, metal 68,221 68,530 77,183 71,410 84,886 p
Poland, chemicals11 704   744   785   820   800  
Russia:e
Ferronickel 8,000 12,000 13,500 14,000 13,000
Metal 252,000 r 239,000 r 260,000 r 261,000 r 266,000
Oxide sinter 12,000 6,000 5,000 5,000 5,000
Chemicals 2,000   2,000   2,500   3,000   3,000  
Total 274,000 r 259,000 r 281,000 r 283,000 r 287,000  
South Africa:
Metal 30,500 31,646 25,500 e 32,680 35,000
Chemicals12 5,943   6,900   15,342   7,170 e 7,500  
Total 36,443 38,546 40,842 39,850 42,500
Taiwan, metal (10) (10) (10) (10) (10)
Ukraine, ferronickele, 13 2,500 6,000 -- r 12,000 r 14,000
United Kingdom, metal 33,817 33,790 26,788 38,606 37,127 p
Venezuela, ferronickel 9,700   15,500   17,200   17,400   16,900 p
Zimbabwe, metal:
Refined from domestic materials14 7,440 8,092 9,517 9,520 9,500 e
Toll refined from imported materials15 12,084 10,812 3,140 2,500 e 2,500
Total 19,524   18,904   12,657   12,020   12,000 e
See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 11�Continued
NICKEL:� WORLD PLANT PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY AND PRODUCT1, 2
(Metric tons of contained nickel)
 
Country and product3   2001   2002   2003   2004   2005  
Grand total 1,190,000 r 1,200,000 r 1,220,000 1,270,000 r 1,300,000
Of which:
Ferronickel 232,000 265,000 272,000 r 278,000 r 292,000
Metal 683,000 r 674,000 r 690,000 r 706,000 r 743,000
Oxide sinter 104,000 r 93,700 93,300 r 104,000 r 101,000
Chemicals 16,900 17,200 26,400 18,700 19,100
Unspecified   152,000   156,000   138,000   162,000 r 149,000  
eEstimated.� pPreliminary.� rRevised.� -- Zero.
1World totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2Table includes data available through August 3, 2006.
3In addition to the countries listed, North Korea is believed to have produced metallic nickel and/or ferronickel, but information is inadequate to make�
reliable estimates of output levels. Several countries produce nickel-containing matte, but output of nickel in such materials has been excluded from this�
table to avoid double counting. Countries producing matte for export are listed in table 12.
4Class II products with a nickel content of less than 99%.� Includes oxides and oxide sinter. Excludes intermediate nickel-cobalt sulfide matte, regulus,�
�and speiss for further refining.
5Brazil produced nickel carbonate (an intermediate product), in metric tons:� 2001�17,063; 2002�18,100; 2003�18,406; 2004�19,897 (revised);�
and 2005�19,900 (preliminary).
6Nickel contained in products of smelters and refineries in forms, which are ready for use by consumers.� Figures include the nickel content of nickel oxide�
sinter exported to the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.� More information can be found in footnote 9.
7Cuba also produces nickel sulfide, but because it is used as feed material elsewhere, it is not included to avoid double counting. Combined output of�
processed sulfide and ammoniacal liquor precipitate was, as follows, in metric tons of contained nickel:� 2001�31,884; 2002�28,548; 2003�31,736;�
2004�32,115; and 2005�not available.� More information can be found in table 12.
8Reported figure.
9Reported by Eramet for Sandouville.� Excludes secondary production from spent rechargeable batteries.
10Nickel metal production for the Republic of Korea and Taiwan are not included because the production is derived wholly from imported metallurgical-
grade oxides and to include them would result in double counting. Metal estimates are as follows, in metric tons: Republic of Korea:� 2001�26,429;�
2002�30,337; 2003�31,340 (revised); 2004�27,200 (revised); and 2005�26,300 (estimated). Taiwan:� 2001�11,500 and 2002-05�11,000.
11Nickel content of nickel sulfate (NiSO4●6H2O).� Most of the nickel sulfate was a byproduct of the concentrating, smelting, and refining of domestically�
mined copper ores. Some production, however, may have been derived from imported nickeliferous raw materials that were blended with the domestic�
copper concentrates.
12Includes nickel sulfate plus exported metal in concentrate.
13May include nickel in remelt alloys derived from scrap.
14Data represent production from domestic nickel ore.
15Previously published as "Other, metal."� Data represent production from matte imported from Botswana as well as nickel sulfate imported from�
South Africa.

Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program

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