Indonesia NPI Output to Grow only Slightly in Mar

SHANGHAI, Mar 9 (SMM) - Indonesia NPI output stood at 105,100 mt in Ni content in February, up 3.96% month-on-month and 27.54% year-on-year. The year-to-date output amounted to 206,200 mt in Ni content. In February, two NPI production lines were newly built in Indonesia, while the commissioning of some production lines was delayed. The output of some new production lines that were constructed in January was not released as scheduled in February. With the improvement of the new energy sector, the companies were more active in switching the high-grade NPI-based production lines to produce high-grade nickel matte spurred by the higher profits of the latter. According to SMM research, the high-grade nickel ore supply in Indonesia has tightened recently, which will push up the NPI plants' costs, but it has not affected the production of high-grade NPI so far. In addition, problems with power equipment in some industrial parks in Indonesia are expected to continue to affect the production pace of NPI in March. SMM believes that the Indonesia NPI output will reach 105,800 in Ni content in March.