LONDON, Jun. 11-- Global nickel supply was 16,000 metric tons short of demand during the first four months of the year, the World Bureau of Metal Statistics said Wednesday.

This compared with a surplus of 16,100 tons for all of 2009.

The WBMS didn't provide any refined nickel production or consumption figures for the first four months of the year.

Mined nickel output during the first four months was 436,100 tons, up 6% compared with the same period a year ago, partly due to increased output from Japan.

Mined Japanese nickel output increased 15.2% during the first four months of the year compared with the same period a year ago although no output figures were provided.

In April 2010, global nickel smelter production was 116,500 tons and consumption was 127,200 tons, the WBMS said.