Nickel Ore Price Advances with Supply Shortages, SMM Reports 

Published: Dec 19, 2016 10:52
Prices for medium and high-grade nickel ore, for future delivery, were up last week due to supply tightness, Shanghai Metals Market reports.

SHANGHAI, Dec. 19 (SMM) – Prices for medium and high-grade nickel ore, for future delivery, were up last week due to supply tightness, Shanghai Metals Market reports.  

Supply of medium and high-grade ore is now tightening due to the monsoon season and environmental crackdowns in the Philippines, SMM explains.

China Sees Bigger Declines in Nickel Ore Inventories, SMM Reports 

“Supply shortages are expected to continue supporting medium and high-grade ore prices, but light trading on the other hand will also curb the rising strength,” SMM points out.  

SMM expects low-grade nickel ore price to rise slightly, both for spot and future delivery, for the foreseeable future.

Indonesia May Relax Ban on Mineral Exports

In other news, Philippines’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said last week to cancel ECC of three nickel mining firms, namely Ipilan, Lebach Mining and Austral-Asia Link. 

For news cooperation, please contact us by email: sallyzhang@smm.cn or service.en@smm.cn.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Domestic High-Grade NPI Costs Drop, but Profit Margins Squeeze Amid Falling Selling Prices
Sep 11, 2026 18:00
Domestic High-Grade NPI Costs Drop, but Profit Margins Squeeze Amid Falling Selling Prices
Read More
Domestic High-Grade NPI Costs Drop, but Profit Margins Squeeze Amid Falling Selling Prices
Domestic High-Grade NPI Costs Drop, but Profit Margins Squeeze Amid Falling Selling Prices
[SMM Nickel Flash] Domestic high-grade NPI production costs declined this week. Lower Philippine nickel ore prices, coupled with a pullback in coke prices, reduced smelting raw material costs. However, NPI selling prices fell significantly over the same period, dragging on profitability and narrowing profit margins for domestic smelters.
Sep 11, 2026 18:00
SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Price Drops to 1,095.5 Yuan/Unit, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls to $141.14/Unit
Sep 11, 2026 18:00
SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Price Drops to 1,095.5 Yuan/Unit, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls to $141.14/Unit
Read More
SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Price Drops to 1,095.5 Yuan/Unit, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls to $141.14/Unit
SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Price Drops to 1,095.5 Yuan/Unit, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls to $141.14/Unit
[SMM Nickel Flash] The average price of SMM 10-12% high-grade NPI fell by 17.7 yuan/nickel unit WoW to 1,095.5 yuan/nickel unit (ex-factory, tax included), while the average price of the Indonesia NPI FOB index dropped by $2.93/nickel unit WoW to $141.14/nickel unit. This week, the high-grade NPI market continued to weaken, with the price center moving steadily lower. Upstream and downstream price negotiations intensified, and the market entered a stalemate, consolidating at lows.
Sep 11, 2026 18:00
[SMM Analysis] High-Grade NPI Prices Decline as Supply Recovers and Market Activity Slows
Sep 11, 2026 17:45
[SMM Analysis] High-Grade NPI Prices Decline as Supply Recovers and Market Activity Slows
Read More
[SMM Analysis] High-Grade NPI Prices Decline as Supply Recovers and Market Activity Slows
[SMM Analysis] High-Grade NPI Prices Decline as Supply Recovers and Market Activity Slows
The average price of SMM 10-12% high-grade NPI fell WoW by 17.7 yuan/nickel unit to 1,095.5 yuan/nickel unit (ex-factory, tax included), and the average price of the Indonesia NPI FOB index fell WoW by $2.93/nickel unit to $141.14/nickel unit. This week, the high-grade NPI market continued to weaken, with the price center shifting steadily lower. Price negotiations between upstream and downstream intensified, and the market entered a phase of stagnant consolidation at lows.
Sep 11, 2026 17:45
Nickel Ore Price Advances with Supply Shortages, SMM Reports  - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)