【SMM Nickel Flash】El Niño Affects Indonesia's Nickel Operations; Logistics Risks Remain

Published: Sep 30, 2026 11:36 (GMT+8)

Save

Confirmed impacts: Prolonged dry weather linked to El Niño has reduced rainfall and water availability in Central Sulawesi. At IMIP, several RKEF lines have reduced operating rates, while Nickel Industries' ENC HPAL project has also faced slower ramp-up. Hengjaya mine recorded exceptionally low rainfall in August.

Logistics risks: Persistently low rainfall and river levels could affect inland water access and the timing of nickel ore movements if dry conditions continue. However, no major disruption to nickel ore barging has been confirmed so far.

The immediate impact remains on water availability and processing operations, rather than confirmed disruption to nickel ore logistics.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

4 mins ago

SMM Data: Battery-Grade Nickel Sulphate Prices Drop on September 30

According to SMM data, on September 30, the SMM average price of battery-grade nickel sulphate fell from the previous day.

4 mins ago

6 mins ago

Indonesian MHP Nickel and Cobalt FOB Prices Drop, High-Grade Nickel Matte Down $49/mt Ni

According to SMM data, on September 30, the FOB price of Indonesian MHP nickel fell by $45/mt Ni from the previous day, and the FOB price of Indonesian MHP cobalt fell by $126/mt Co. The FOB price of Indonesian high-grade nickel matte fell by $49/mt Ni.

6 mins ago

21 mins ago

[SMM Nickel Market Flash] Lygend Resources Lists on Shenzhen Main Board

September 30 News – Lygend Resources & Technology Co., Ltd. officially listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange Main Board today under stock code 001246. The IPO was priced at 21.23 yuan/share, with 172.89 million new shares issued. Lygend’s operations cover nickel resource procurement, trading, production and sales, with both HPAL hydrometallurgical and RKEF pyrometallurgical projects in Indonesia producing nickel-cobalt compounds and ferronickel. Having previously listed in Hong Kong, the Shenzhen debut completes Lygend’s dual A-share and H-share listing structure.

21 mins ago