|
| TABLE 12 | |||||||||||
| NICKEL: WORLD PLANT PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY AND PRODUCT1, 2 | |||||||||||
| (Metric tons of contained nickel) | |||||||||||
| Country and product3 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | ||||||
| Australia: | |||||||||||
| Metal | 89,474 | r | 123,204 | r | 92,200 | 97,655 | r | 115,796 | p | ||
| Unspecified4 | 19,441 | r | 8,006 | r | 9,400 | r | 12,558 | r | 12,963 | p | |
| Total | 108,915 | r | 131,210 | r | 101,600 | r | 110,213 | r | 128,759 | p | |
| Austria, ferronickel and ferronickel molybdenume | 500 | r | 700 | 600 | 700 | r | 800 | ||||
| Brazil:5 | |||||||||||
| Ferronickel | 7,136 | 9,427 | 8,465 | 16,750 | r | 31,342 | p | ||||
| Metal | 18,530 | 16,598 | 19,111 | 20,521 | r | 21,437 | p | ||||
| Total | 25,666 | 26,025 | 27,576 | 37,271 | r | 52,779 | p | ||||
| Burma, ferronickel | -- | -- | -- | -- | (6) | ||||||
| Canada, unspecified7 | 167,732 | 116,909 | 105,413 | 142,445 | 139,800 | p | |||||
| China:e, 8 | |||||||||||
| Ferronickel and high-nickel pig iron | 70,900 | 98,000 | r | 158,000 | r | 254,000 | r | 308,000 | p | ||
| Metal | 129,000 | 165,000 | 159,000 | 175,000 | r | 229,000 | |||||
| Chemicals and unspecified | 8,000 | 9 | 8,000 | 8,500 | 8,900 | r | 9,000 | p | |||
| Total | 207,900 | 9 | 271,000 | r | 326,000 | r | 438,000 | r | 546,000 | ||
| Colombia, ferronickel | 41,636 | 51,802 | 49,443 | 37,817 | 47,408 | ||||||
| Cuba, oxide sinter and oxides10 | 30,200 | r | 27,900 | r | 27,100 | r | 29,200 | r | 28,700 | e | |
| Dominican Republic, ferronickel | 18,782 | -- | -- | 13,498 | 15,186 | ||||||
| Finland:11 | |||||||||||
| Metal, electrolytic, including cathode and briquettes | 42,971 | r | 41,848 | r | 41,317 | r | 43,840 | r | 39,374 | ||
| Chemicals and unspecified, including powder, salts, solutions,- | 6,904 | r | 4,900 | r | 7,866 | r | 7,275 | r | 6,500 | ||
| and other | |||||||||||
| Total | 49,875 | r | 46,748 | r | 49,183 | r | 51,115 | r | 45,874 | ||
| France: | |||||||||||
| Metal | 11,397 | r | 11,996 | r | 10,799 | r | 11,697 | r | 11,273 | ||
| Chemicals | 1,839 | r | 1,959 | r | 2,080 | 2,039 | r | 1,927 | |||
| Total12 | 13,236 | r | 13,955 | r | 12,879 | r | 13,736 | r | 13,200 | ||
| Greece, ferronickel | 16,650 | 8,269 | 13,956 | r | 18,527 | r | 18,632 | ||||
| India:13 | |||||||||||
| Ferronickel14 | -- | r | -- | r | -- | r | -- | r | -- | ||
| Ferronickel magnesium | 93 | 88 | 96 | r | 107 | r, e | 114 | e | |||
| Nickel sulfate15 | -- | r | -- | r | -- | r | -- | r | -- | ||
| Total | 93 | 88 | 96 | r | 107 | r, e | 114 | e | |||
| Indonesia, ferronickel | 17,566 | 12,550 | 18,688 | 19,690 | 18,373 | ||||||
| Japan: | |||||||||||
| Ferronickel | 59,259 | 54,491 | 64,350 | r | 62,773 | r | 73,248 | ||||
| Metal | 34,861 | 29,351 | 40,228 | 41,290 | 41,947 | ||||||
| Oxide sinter | 61,753 | 58,808 | 59,011 | 50,437 | 52,000 | e | |||||
| Chemicals | 2,333 | 1,669 | 2,497 | 2,383 | 2,362 | ||||||
| Total | 158,206 | 144,319 | 166,086 | r | 156,883 | r | 169,557 | ||||
| Korea, Republic of: | |||||||||||
| Ferronickel | 2,506 | 21,609 | 20,965 | 19,300 | r, e | 19,800 | p, e | ||||
| Metal | (16) | (16) | (16) | (16) | (16) | ||||||
| Total | 2,506 | 21,609 | 20,965 | 19,300 | r, e | 19,800 | p, e | ||||
| Kosovo, ferronickel17 | 3,655 | r | 10,538 | r | 9,081 | r | 7,728 | r | 4,436 | ||
| Macedonia, ferronickel | 15,026 | 12,000 | 14,413 | 17,292 | 19,247 | ||||||
| Madagascar, metal | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5,695 | ||||||
| Morocco, chemicals, including nickel sulfate | (18) | r | (18) | r | (18) | r | (18) | r | (18) | ||
| New Caledonia: | |||||||||||
| Ferronickel | 37,467 | 38,230 | 39,802 | 40,015 | 43,030 | p | |||||
| Nickel oxide sinter | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2,353 | p | |||||
| Total | 37,467 | 38,230 | 39,802 | 40,015 | 45,383 | p | |||||
| Norway, metal | 88,741 | 88,577 | 92,185 | 92,427 | 91,687 | ||||||
| See footnotes at end of table. | |||||||||||
| TABLE 12-Continued | |||||||||||
| NICKEL: WORLD PLANT PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY AND PRODUCT1, 2 | |||||||||||
| (Metric tons of contained nickel) | |||||||||||
| Country and product3 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | ||||||
| Russia: | |||||||||||
| Ferronickel | |||||||||||
| High-nickel | 16,158 | 15,565 | 16,799 | 16,899 | 9,782 | ||||||
| Othere, 19 | 4,910 | 5,130 | 5,140 | r | 5,090 | r | 2,940 | ||||
| Total, ferronickel | 21,068 | 20,695 | 21,939 | r | 21,989 | r | 12,722 | ||||
| Metal | 242,209 | 239,269 | 245,543 | 242,228 | r | 239,632 | p | ||||
| Chemicals | 2,900 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,600 | ||||||
| Total, Russia | 266,177 | 262,664 | 270,182 | r | 266,917 | r | 254,954 | ||||
| South Africa: | |||||||||||
| Ferronickel, high-nickel | 4,300 | 630 | r | 614 | r | 575 | r | 658 | |||
| Metal | 29,400 | r | 34,200 | r | 34,700 | r | 35,900 | r | 30,100 | p | |
| Chemicals20 | 4,450 | 4,850 | 1,345 | r | 1,930 | r | 1,515 | ||||
| Total | 38,150 | r | 39,680 | r | 36,659 | r | 38,405 | r | 32,273 | ||
| Taiwan, metal | (16) | (16) | (16) | (16) | (16) | ||||||
| Ukraine, ferronickel21 | 16,224 | 12,392 | 15,467 | r | 13,655 | r | 20,782 | ||||
| United Kingdom, metal22 | 40,800 | 17,800 | 31,650 | 37,400 | 34,300 | p | |||||
| Venezuela, ferronickele | 10,900 | 10,400 | 11,700 | 13,400 | 8,100 | ||||||
| Zimbabwe, metal:e | |||||||||||
| Refined from domestic nickel ore | 3,400 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Toll refined from imported nickel feed23 | 10,300 | 5,000 | r | 4,039 | r, 9 | 3,715 | r, 9 | 2,400 | |||
| Total | 13,700 | 5,000 | r | 4,039 | r, 9 | 3,715 | r, 9 | 2,400 | |||
| Grand total | 1,390,000 | r | 1,370,000 | r | 1,440,000 | 1,620,000 | r | 1,760,000 | |||
| Of which: | |||||||||||
| Ferronickel, including ferronickel magnesium, ferronickel | 344,000 | r | 362,000 | r | 448,000 | r | 558,000 | r | 642,000 | ||
| molybdenum, and high-nickel pig iron | |||||||||||
| Metal | 741,000 | r | 773,000 | r | 771,000 | r | 802,000 | r | 863,000 | ||
| Oxide sinter | 92,000 | r | 86,700 | r | 86,100 | r | 79,600 | r | 83,100 | ||
| Chemicals, including nickel sulfate | 11,500 | r | 11,200 | r | 8,620 | r | 9,050 | r | 8,404 | ||
| Unspecified | 202,000 | 138,000 | 131,000 | r | 171,000 | r | 168,000 | ||||
| eEstimated. pPreliminary. rRevised. -- Zero. | |||||||||||
| 1Grand totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. | |||||||||||
| 2Includes data available through March 3, 2015. | |||||||||||
| 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.- | |||||||||||
| 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. | |||||||||||
| 5Source: DNPM/DIPLAM-RAL, MDIC/SECEX (DNPM Sum-rio Mineral 2009-2013). Production year 2009 is under investigation. Brazil- | |||||||||||
| produced nickel carbonate (an intermediate product for metal production), in metric tons: 2008-18,580; 2009-16,766; 2010-30,161- | |||||||||||
| (revised preliminary number); (revised preliminary number); 2011-19,381 (revised); and 2012-19,400 (estimated). Companhia Brasileira | |||||||||||
| -de Metalurgia e Minera--o (CBMM) produced nickel niobium for sale to the superalloys industry. | |||||||||||
| 6The Tagaung Taung nickel mine concentrating and smelting ferronickel complex is funded by China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company- | |||||||||||
| Group Co., Ltd. (CNMC). China ENFI Engineering Corp. (ENFI) designed the complex for an annual output of 25,000 metric tons of- | |||||||||||
| nickelferrite and nickel metal. The nickelferrite pelletization system was started on March 5, 2013, and proved to be stable and successfully- | |||||||||||
| put into operation. | |||||||||||
| 7Nickel contained in products of smelters and refineries in forms that 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 16. | |||||||||||
| 8Preliminary figures for ferronickel and chemicals were derived from data published by Beijing Antaike Information Development Co. Ltd.- | |||||||||||
| Figures for electrolytic and other class I nickel are based on data provided by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association and the | |||||||||||
| International Nickel Study Group. In 2007-11, China also produced nickeliferous pig iron from lateritic ores imported from Indonesia,- | |||||||||||
| New Caledonia, and the Philippines. | |||||||||||
| 9Reported figure. | |||||||||||
| 10Cuba also produces nickel sulfide and ammoniacal liquor precipitate, but because they are used as feed material elsewhere, they are not included | |||||||||||
| -to avoid double counting.- | |||||||||||
| 11Most of the production is extracted from imported raw materials. | |||||||||||
| 12Reported by ERAMET for Sandouville. Excludes secondary production from spent rechargeable batteries. | |||||||||||
| 13Indiaʼs fiscal year ending March 31 of that year stated. | |||||||||||
| TABLE 12-Continued | |||||||||||
| NICKEL: WORLD PLANT PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY AND PRODUCT1, 2 | |||||||||||
| 14Vidarbha Nickel Pvt. Ltd. of Nagpur, Maharashtra State, has been producing ferronickel from spent nickel catalysts, but no production data- | |||||||||||
| were available. The ferronickel typically contains 47% to 50% nickel. | |||||||||||
| 15In India, nickel sulfate was produced as a byproduct at the Ghatsila copper smelter in Jharkhand State. The facility, part of Hindustan Copper Ltd.,- | |||||||||||
| is capable of producing 390 tons (gross weight) per year of nickel sulfate, but no production figures have been reported since 2005. The copper- | |||||||||||
| anode slime typically contains 0.4% to 0.8% nickel in addition to 4% to 10% silver. | |||||||||||
| 16Nickel 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: 2008-27,266 (revised); 2009-16,404 (revised); 2010-12,200 (revised); 2011-11,706 (revised); and 2012-11,000 (estimated).- | |||||||||||
| Taiwan: 2008-15,162 (revised); 2009-11,148 (revised); 2010-12,200 (revised); 2011-11,706 (revised); and 2012-11,700 (estimated).- | |||||||||||
| 17On February 17, 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared independence from Serbia.- | |||||||||||
| 18Nickel content of nickel sulfate is listed in table 10. 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. | |||||||||||
| 19Includes ferronickel chromium and Ni-resist cast iron. | |||||||||||
| 20Includes nickel sulfate plus exported metal in concentrate. | |||||||||||
| 21May include nickel in remelt alloys derived from scrap. | |||||||||||
| 22Tonnages include nickel contents of chemicals. | |||||||||||
| 23Data represent production from matte imported from Botswana and nickel sulfate imported from South Africa. | |||||||||||
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Mineral commodity prices
