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This table presents detailed data on the quantities of nickel products imported into the United States from various countries and localities during 2023, measured in metric tons of contained nickel. It categorizes imports by product types such as unwrought cathodes, pellets, briquets, powder and flakes, ferronickel, metallurgical-grade oxide, waste and scrap, stainless-steel scrap, and chemicals. This information is critical for understanding the supply chain dynamics of nickel, a metal essential for stainless steel production, batteries, and various industrial applications. Tracking import sources and volumes helps assess the U.S. market’s reliance on foreign nickel, informs trade policy, and supports strategic planning for industries dependent on this metal.
In 2023, Canada remained the dominant supplier, exporting a total of 70,400 metric tons of nickel-containing products to the U.S., an increase from 64,000 metric tons in 2022. Australia followed with 11,300 metric tons, showing a modest rise from 10,700 metric tons the previous year. Notably, imports from Russia dropped sharply to 832 metric tons from 11,800 metric tons in 2022, reflecting significant geopolitical or trade disruptions. Brazil’s exports also declined, from 7,670 metric tons in 2022 to 6,260 metric tons in 2023. Meanwhile, Madagascar’s exports more than doubled, reaching 3,050 metric tons compared to 1,410 metric tons in 2022. Overall, total nickel imports decreased to 152,000 metric tons in 2023 from 164,000 metric tons in 2022, indicating a tightening supply or shifting market conditions. The data highlights the importance of North American sources and the impact of global events on nickel trade flows.
| TABLE 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF NICKEL PRODUCTS, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Metric tons of contained nickel)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 | 10700 | 200 | -- | 55 | 308 | 19 | 8 | 11300 | 10700 | -- | ||||||||||
| Belgium | -- | 59 | -- | -- | 70 | (6) | 393 | 522 | 513 | -- | ||||||||||
| Brazil | 186 | -- | 6000 | -- | 65 | 6 | -- | 6260 | 7670 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Canada | 48700 | 4710 | -- | 61 | 9050 | 7560 | 272 | 70400 | 64000 | 25 | ||||||||||
| China | -- | 45 | 10 | 159 | 1130 | 8 | 1840 | 3200 | 3240 | 70 | ||||||||||
| Colombia | -- | -- | 508 | -- | 11 | 82 | -- | 601 | 2140 | -- | ||||||||||
| Czechia | -- | -- | -- | -- | 176 | 20 | 26 | 222 | 239 | -- | ||||||||||
| Denmark | -- | 16 | -- | -- | -- | 27 | 414 | 457 | 418 | -- | ||||||||||
| Estonia | -- | -- | -- | -- | 458 | 37 | -- | 496 | 363 | -- | ||||||||||
| Finland | 2520 | 195 | -- | -- | -- | (6) | 51 | 2770 | 8580 | (6) | ||||||||||
| France | 398 | 13 | -- | -- | 1380 | 2 | 562 | 2350 | 1870 | 139 | ||||||||||
| Germany | -- | 223 | 5 | -- | 707 | (6) | 264 | 1200 | 992 | 544 | ||||||||||
| India | (6) | 156 | 8 | -- | 140 | 2 | 221 | 527 | 339 | 54 | ||||||||||
| Italy | -- | 9 | 4 | -- | 214 | 2 | 17 | 246 | 217 | 32 | ||||||||||
| Japan | 3180 | 39 | -- | (6) | 777 | 8 | 196 | 4200 | 1890 | 24 | ||||||||||
| Korea, Republic of | -- | 1 | -- | 14 | 241 | -- | -- | 256 | 2150 | -- | ||||||||||
| Madagascar | 3050 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3050 | 1410 | -- | ||||||||||
| Malaysia | 624 | -- | -- | -- | 25 | -- | -- | 649 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Mexico | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 2930 | 7410 | -- | 10300 | 10800 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Netherlands | -- | -- | -- | -- | 6 | (6) | 104 | 110 | 137 | (6) | ||||||||||
| New Caledonia | -- | -- | 1060 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1060 | 1760 | -- | ||||||||||
| Norway | 14900 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 12 | 14900 | 13200 | -- | ||||||||||
| Philippines | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 152 | 152 | 258 | (6) | ||||||||||
| Poland | -- | (6) | -- | -- | 159 | (6) | 22 | 182 | 78 | -- | ||||||||||
| Russia | 638 | 135 | -- | -- | 60 | -- | -- | 832 | 11800 | -- | ||||||||||
| Singapore | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1560 | -- | -- | 1560 | 699 | 5 | ||||||||||
| South Africa | 7960 | 100 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 114 | 8170 | 7420 | -- | ||||||||||
| Spain | -- | (6) | -- | -- | 268 | -- | 17 | 286 | 644 | -- | ||||||||||
| Switzerland | -- | -- | -- | -- | 120 | (6) | -- | 121 | 155 | (6) | ||||||||||
| Taiwan | -- | -- | -- | -- | 155 | 38 | 56 | 249 | 340 | 2 | ||||||||||
| Turkey | -- | -- | -- | -- | 137 | 4 | (6) | 142 | 215 | (6) | ||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 219 | 399 | 31 | 14 | 3840 | 2 | 106 | 4610 | 5580 | 55 | ||||||||||
| Other7 | 26 | 67 | -- | -- | 190 | 314 | 45 | 642 | 4380 | r | 38 | |||||||||
| Total | 93000 | 6370 | 7630 | 304 | 24200 | 15500 | 4900 | 152000 | 164000 | 992 | ||||||||||
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 from Australia, 90%; elsewhere, 77%. The “Chemicals” category contains the following: chemical-grade oxide, sesquioxide, and hydroxide, 65% nickel; chlorides, 25% nickel; sulfates, 22% nickel. Other salts and various catalysts are assumed to be 22% nickel. Waste and scrap is assumed to be 50% nickel; stainless–steel scrap, 7.5% nickel.
3Countries and (or) localities listed were the leading exporters in the United States in 2023 in terms of quantity (nickel content).
4Primarily oxide, rondelles, and sinter.
5Not included in “2023, Total.”
6Less than ½ unit.
7Includes 36 countries and (or) localities with less than 100 metric tons each in 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Nickel statistics | Mineral commodity prices