BEIJING (Scrap Monster): As per latest statistics released by the Chinese customs, the country's ferronickel imports more than doubled during the initial six-month period of the year. The imports totaled 140,114 tons during H1, 104% higher when compared with the imports of 68,656 tons during the corresponding half-yearly period last year.

The major ferronickel exporter to China during the six-month period was Japan. The imports from Japan totaled 33,437 tons, accounting for nearly one-fourth of total imports by the country during the period. The imports from Japan surged higher by more than 400% year-on-year during this period.

The second largest imports by China were from Colombia. The imports from Colombia totaled 30,953 tons. Year-on-year, the imports from Colombia has slightly improved by 1.4% during the six-month period. In third place was New Caledonia, with 27,785 tons. The imports from New Caledonia soared higher during H1 2014. The Chinese imports of ferronickel from New Caledonia had totaled only 3,430 tons last year.

For the month of June '14 alone, the Chinese ferronickel alloy imports totaled 17,604 tons. The imports during the month surged higher by over 160% upon comparison with the previous year June imports.