[SMM data] the impact of the epidemic caused by the 105.5% month-on-month increase in imports of nickel mines in China in June has been basically eliminated.

Published: Jul 26, 2020 12:40 (GMT+8)

SMM, July 26th:

Customs data show that China's nickel mine imports totaled 3.4546 million tons in June, up 1.7739 million tons from May, up 105.5% from a month earlier and down 17.1% from a year earlier.

Among them, imports from the Philippines were 3.0748 million tons, up 129% from the previous month and 3.54% lower than the same period last year. The impact of Philippine exports caused by the epidemic has been basically eliminated, and imports may return to normal shipping levels in July. In addition, the nickel ore volume from Xinka rebounded to 246000 tons, an increase of 2011.7% over the previous month. Due to the influence of the weather, the shipments were relatively low in the early period of Xinka, and now it has gradually returned to the normal level, with a cumulative import volume of 833600 tons in the first half of the year. There are still some low-grade nickel mines in Indonesia's bonded areas. In June, the customs showed that the data was 107000 tons, a decrease of 31.6% from the previous month, and all of them were low-grade. SMM expects Philippine exports of nickel mines to gradually return to normal levels in July.

(note: the customs data do not distinguish between dry and wet tons. For specific imports, please refer to the figure below)

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