Tsingshan’s stainless steel mill in south China’s Fujian province has just made another large purchase of high-grade nickel pig iron (NPI), bringing its cumulative procurement for this month to 100,000 mt which is estimated to secure its production until at least July.

China’s copper cathode output in March increased even as secondary copper production continued to contract due to the unfavourable price spread between copper cathode and copper scrap, in addition to copper scrap supply issues. The global outbreak of COVID-19 took a toll on copper scrap supply from Malaysia.

Foreign trade vessels that arrived at Chinese ports between March 1 and June 30 are exempt from port construction dues, which are paid by the Chinese importers to local authorities, a move aimed at...

China’s NPI production will decline 13% to 510,000 mt in Ni content in 2020

Production of refined nickel inched up 1.5%

NPI in China rose 4.82% from a month ago to a record high of 53,200 mt in Ni content in Aug

SMM assessment showed that offers of nickel ore with 1.8% Ni climbed to $54-55/wmt cif as of Jul 26

NPI production from Ulanqab accounted for 7.9% of the nation’s total in Jun

This is likely to keep nickel prices robust, rangebound in short term

This is a roundup of China's base metals output in Mar