SMM Data: China’s Nickel Sulphate Output In August And Forecast For September

SHANGHAI, Sep 12 (SMM) – Chinese nickel sulphate output in August stood at 42,000 mt in metal content or 193,000 mt in physical content, up 5.12% on the month and 30.5% on the year. In August, ternary cathode precursors increased by about 4% compared with July. The increase in nickel sulphate production in August was largely pinned on the increase in precursor production of integrated large factories. In addition, the output of small factories remained stable compared with the previous month. Therefore, the overall nickel sulphate production edged down in August. While nickel sulphate output may inch lower by 5% in September, mainly due to rigid demand from precursor markets and weaker demand from refined nickel market. Prolonged nickel sulphate price erosions and high costs in early August had non-integrated salt plants running in the red, thereby leading to production cutbacks of some salt plants.