SHANGHAI, Apr 13 (SMM) – Stainless steel will have less impact on nickel prices in 2018 as new-energy batteries gain dominance, according to senior analyst of nickel at SMM, Yang Bo.

Stainless steel will account for less than 50% of the factors for nickel prices, Yang told delegates at the SMM CoLiNi Summit on Friday April 13 in Quzhou, Zhejiang province.

She expects that nickel sulphate production will account for about 14% of the demand for nickel this year. Demand for nickel sulphate from ternary precursors is likely to reach 335,000 mt in 2018, from 180,000 mt in 2017.  

China’s output of nickel sulphate is expected to reach 600,000 mt in 2018 as companies, such as GEM China, Guangxi Yinyi, Ji En Nickel and Yantai Cash Industry plan to expand. Smaller companies in Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces also plan to commission nickel sulphate projects.

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