SHANGHAI, May 27 (SMM) – China imported 240,700 mt of ferronickel and nickel pig iron (NPI) in April, up 65.43%, or 95,200 mt year on year, according to the latest data from China customs.

Compared with March, the ferronickel and NPI imports in April declined 26.41%, or 86,400 mt. 

Imports of Indonesian ferronickel and NPI accounted for 188,000 mt in April, up 96.86%, or 92,500 mt, year on year. 

China’s imports of Indonesian NPI are expected to continue to expand in the second quarter as smelters in the Southeast Asian country will ramp up the commissioning of new capacity.

Customs data also showed that China’s imports of refined nickel came in at 9,931.22 mt in April, up 27.7% on the month while down 44.86% on the year. 

China exported 1717.36 mt of refined nickel in April, down 63.42% from a month ago while up 293.89% from a year earlier.