(under review) [SMM Nickel Market inventory] Shanghai Nickel stabilized slightly this week and is expected to hit the 100000 level.

Published: Apr 17, 2020 20:28 (GMT+8)

SMM4, March 17: nickel prices as a whole rebounded from last week. As of April 17, the main contract for Shanghai nickel was 2006 yuan / ton, up nearly 2.7% on the same day, up 2540 yuan / ton, or 2.6%, from Monday's closing price of 96430 yuan / ton on April 13.

On the inventory side, inventories last week (4 / 17) were 27966 tonnes, down 179 tonnes, or 0.64 per cent, from 28145 tonnes last week. LME nickel stocks were 230304 tonnes as of Friday, April 17, an increase of 1242 tonnes, or nearly 0.54 per cent, from Thursday's 229062 tonnes.

In news this week, Panoramic Resources has suspended operations at the Savannah nickel mine in East Kimberley, Western Australia, due to the continuing impact of the outbreak. The temporary shutdown has affected many aspects of Savannah (Savannah) operations, including transportation, personnel availability and the cost of equipment and supplies. Panoramic said the suspension in Savannah would help retain cash and that the company would review its financial structure when the mine resumed operations. In addition to suspending operations, Panoramic withdrew production and cost guidance and suspended trading in its shares on the Australian Stock Exchange until its future plans for its Savannah nickel mine were finalized.

Spot supply and demand fundamentals, Jinchuan nickel, with the recent more than 1000 tons of Jinchuan nickel have been sent to Shanghai, at the same time manufacturers appropriately lowered the ex-factory price, traders have actively received the goods, the supply side is temporarily more adequate. As a result, Jinchuan nickel rose to 1100-1300 yuan / ton on the 2006 contract. However, as it is nearing the end of the month, manufacturers are expected to reduce their daily shipments of No. 1 nickel next week. At the same time, Jinchuan Company has recently sold a new product nickel bar to the market, the quality and packaging are the same as Jinchuan No. 1 nickel, but at present it can only be received in Gansu. It is expected that the rising water in Jinchuan in the future may remain between 1000 and 1500 yuan / ton for the 06 contract.

As for the import of nickel, due to the weak import price in the near future, there is little import of nickel plate customs clearance. The overseas epidemic has affected the shipping of goods, and the Russian nickel bills of lading of many traders have been postponed to the end of April before they can arrive in Hong Kong, or there may be a concentration of goods. It is reported that Sumitomo nickel, due to manufacturers overseas mines affected by the epidemic situation, the current domestic bonded area Sumitomo nickel inventory and bill of lading quotation.

On the domestic side, pure inventory is stable to the warehouse, although the warehouse receipt has dropped by nearly 10,000 tons since February, but compared with the current demand for nickel plates, there will be no shortage for the time being. SMM expects that from next week, nickel terminal manufacturers will gradually enter the May Day holiday stock stage, but nickel prices have stabilized in the near future, is expected to hit the upper 100000 yuan / ton level, or will have a certain restraint on downstream purchasing efforts.

"Click to sign up:" 2020 (Fifth) China International Nickel Cobalt Lithium Summit Forum "

To sign up for the Nickel Cobalt Lithium Summit or apply to enter the industry exchange group, please scan the code:

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
[SMM Flash News] Indonesia Names PT CNI Corporate Suspect in Rp401.65 Billion Nickel Governance Case
2 hours ago
[SMM Flash News] Indonesia Names PT CNI Corporate Suspect in Rp401.65 Billion Nickel Governance Case
Read More
[SMM Flash News] Indonesia Names PT CNI Corporate Suspect in Rp401.65 Billion Nickel Governance Case
[SMM Flash News] Indonesia Names PT CNI Corporate Suspect in Rp401.65 Billion Nickel Governance Case
Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office has named PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama (CNI) as a corporate suspect in an alleged nickel commodity governance corruption case in Southeast Sulawesi during 2017–2020. Prosecutors also named four individuals as suspects. The case allegedly involved nickel exports without fulfilling DMO requirements, inaccurate nickel-grade testing documents, export recommendation issuance before RKAB approval, and incomplete RKAB document verification. The alleged state loss was estimated at Rp401.65 billion. The case may increase market attention on historical nickel export compliance, RKAB administration, and third-party assay verification procedures in Indonesia’s mining sector.
2 hours ago
[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] India Extends AD Probe on Stainless CRC from China, Indonesia and Vietnam by 6 Months
Sep 25, 2026 15:45 (GMT+8)
[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] India Extends AD Probe on Stainless CRC from China, Indonesia and Vietnam by 6 Months
Read More
[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] India Extends AD Probe on Stainless CRC from China, Indonesia and Vietnam by 6 Months
[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] India Extends AD Probe on Stainless CRC from China, Indonesia and Vietnam by 6 Months
India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) issued a notification on September 22, confirming the central government's approval to extend the anti-dumping investigation deadline on stainless steel cold-rolled flat products originating in or exported from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam by six months, from September 28, 2026 to March 28, 2027. The extension maintains the original product scope covering 300 and 400 series coils, strips, sheets, plates, and circles, without issuing any findings or preliminary duty rates. The investigation, which commenced on September 29, 2025, covers specific austenitic, ferritic, and martensitic grades, excluding hot-rolled flat products, duplex grades, and 200-series products with specific nickel content levels.
Sep 25, 2026 15:45 (GMT+8)
[SMM Analysis] Indonesian Production Cuts and Pre-Holiday Caution Slow the Decline in NPI Prices
Sep 24, 2026 16:47 (GMT+8)
[SMM Analysis] Indonesian Production Cuts and Pre-Holiday Caution Slow the Decline in NPI Prices
Read More
[SMM Analysis] Indonesian Production Cuts and Pre-Holiday Caution Slow the Decline in NPI Prices
[SMM Analysis] Indonesian Production Cuts and Pre-Holiday Caution Slow the Decline in NPI Prices
Indonesian production cuts slowed the decline in NPI prices, but rising port inventories and weak stainless steel demand kept buyers cautious. The NPI discount to refined nickel widened, modestly improving the economics of conversion to high grade matte, though direct NPI sales remained more profitable.
Sep 24, 2026 16:47 (GMT+8)