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This table presents detailed data on the quantities of nickel products exported from the United States to various countries and localities in 2023, measured in metric tons of contained nickel. It categorizes exports by product type, including unwrought forms such as cathodes, pellets, and briquets, as well as powders, flakes, ferronickel, metallurgical-grade oxide, waste and scrap, stainless-steel scrap, and chemicals. This information is crucial for understanding the flow of nickel in global markets, reflecting the demand for nickel in manufacturing, alloy production, and chemical applications. The data helps policymakers, industry stakeholders, and analysts assess trade balances, identify key trading partners, and monitor trends that influence the U.S. nickel industry's competitiveness and supply chain dynamics.
In 2023, the total U.S. exports of nickel products reached approximately 69,000 metric tons, marking a significant increase from 55,400 metric tons in 2022. Canada remained the largest recipient, importing 17,400 metric tons, up from 15,100 metric tons the previous year, underscoring its role as a major partner in nickel trade. India also showed notable growth, with exports rising to 15,900 metric tons from 12,100 metric tons, driven largely by substantial shipments of stainless-steel scrap totaling 14,600 metric tons. Mexico followed closely with 9,370 metric tons, slightly above its 8,960 metric tons in 2022. Other countries such as China and Taiwan experienced considerable increases, with China’s imports rising to 1,530 metric tons and Taiwan’s to 6,000 metric tons, more than doubling from 2,840 metric tons in 2022. These shifts highlight expanding demand in Asia and North America, reflecting broader industrial trends and the strategic importance of nickel in sectors like stainless steel production and battery manufacturing.
| TABLE 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. EXPORTS OF NICKEL PRODUCTS, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Metric tons, nickel content)2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cathodes, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| pellets, and | Powder | Wrought | ||||||||||||||||||
| briquets | and | Metallurgical- | Waste | Stainless– | Total | Total | nickel | |||||||||||||
| Country or locality3 | (unwrought) | flakes | Ferronickel | grade oxide4 | and scrap | steel scrap | Chemicals | in 2023 | in 2022 | in 20235 | ||||||||||
| Australia | -- | 5 | -- | (6) | 880 | 6 | (6) | 892 | 831 | r | (6) | |||||||||
| Bahrain | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 175 | 175 | 34 | (6) | ||||||||||
| Belgium | (6) | (6) | -- | -- | 58 | 456 | 67 | 582 | 556 | 3 | ||||||||||
| Brazil | -- | 74 | -- | (6) | -- | 21 | 55 | 151 | 145 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Canada | 53 | 215 | -- | 2130 | 11100 | 2640 | 1240 | 17400 | 15100 | 35 | ||||||||||
| China | 1 | 257 | 1 | 2 | 105 | 214 | 950 | 1530 | 1160 | 140 | ||||||||||
| Denmark | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8 | 165 | 172 | 164 | (6) | ||||||||||
| Finland | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 568 | 186 | 753 | 291 | r | 2 | |||||||||
| France | -- | 20 | -- | 4 | 99 | -- | 17 | 140 | 108 | 8 | ||||||||||
| Germany | 1 | 356 | -- | 5 | 342 | 76 | 608 | 1390 | 2480 | 60 | ||||||||||
| Hong Kong | 20 | 15 | -- | 1 | 10 | 144 | (6) | 191 | 39 | 1 | ||||||||||
| India | 1 | 149 | 229 | 2 | 446 | 14600 | 395 | 15900 | 12100 | 71 | ||||||||||
| Indonesia | -- | 34 | -- | 6 | -- | -- | 68 | 108 | 44 | (6) | ||||||||||
| Italy | -- | 28 | -- | -- | 185 | 2310 | 201 | 2720 | 275 | 351 | ||||||||||
| Japan | -- | 79 | -- | -- | 2110 | 135 | 83 | 2410 | 2310 | 9 | ||||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | -- | 193 | -- | (6) | 2 | 581 | 444 | 1220 | 1270 | 33 | ||||||||||
| Kuwait | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 380 | 380 | 247 | -- | ||||||||||
| Malaysia | -- | 13 | -- | 1 | 365 | 228 | 49 | 656 | 451 | 15 | ||||||||||
| Mexico | 769 | 102 | (6) | 8 | 12 | 8070 | 413 | 9370 | 8960 | 71 | ||||||||||
| Netherlands | -- | 3 | 9 | (6) | 33 | 2060 | 9 | 2110 | 340 | (6) | ||||||||||
| Pakistan | -- | 14 | -- | -- | -- | 504 | 26 | 544 | 1230 | -- | ||||||||||
| Saudi Arabia | -- | 15 | -- | -- | -- | 8 | 129 | 151 | 96 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Singapore | -- | 213 | -- | -- | 332 | 18 | 93 | 657 | 289 | r | 8 | |||||||||
| Spain | -- | 4 | -- | 1 | -- | 484 | 1 | 489 | 49 | 5 | ||||||||||
| Sweden | -- | 21 | -- | -- | 144 | 155 | 1 | 320 | 90 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Taiwan | -- | 16 | -- | -- | 934 | 4990 | 58 | 6000 | 2840 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Thailand | -- | 40 | -- | 352 | 100 | 304 | 141 | 937 | 573 | 2 | ||||||||||
| Turkey | 15 | 22 | -- | (6) | 11 | 14 | 61 | 124 | 118 | 2 | ||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 11 | 85 | -- | (6) | 729 | 76 | 29 | 930 | 1870 | 40 | ||||||||||
| Other7 | 8 | 147 | (6) | 35 | 45 | 92 | 328 | 655 | 1410 | r | 71 | |||||||||
| Total | 879 | 2120 | 239 | 2560 | 18000 | 38800 | 6370 | 69000 | 55400 | 945 | ||||||||||
rRevised. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through January 22, 2025. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2The nickel contents are assumed to be as follows: metallurgical-grade oxide, 77%; waste and scrap, 50%; and stainless–steel scrap, 7.5%. The “Chemicals” category contains the following: chemical-grade oxide, sesquioxide, and hydroxide, 65% nickel; chlorides, 25% nickel; and sulfates, 22%. Other salts and various catalysts are assumed to be 22% nickel.
3Countries and (or) localities listed were the leading export recipients in 2023 in terms of quantity (contained weight).
4Chemical-grade oxide is included in the “Chemicals” category.
5Not included in “2023, Total.”
6Less than ½ unit.
7Includes 62 countries and (or) localities with less than 100 metric tons total in 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Nickel statistics | Mineral commodity prices