SHANGHAI, Oct 27 (SMM) – China's nickel ore imports surged in September compared to the previous month, as the weather in the top supplier—the Philippines—got better, and the port has fully shipped to make up for the export impact caused by the pandemic and weather in the previous months. The shipments of countries such as New Caledonia have also increased significantly.

China imported 6.21 million mt of nickel ore and concentrate last month, up 65.8% from August but down 30.4% from August 2019, according to data from China customs compiled and calculated by SMM.

Imports from the Philippines jumped 62.2% month on month but dipped 3.87% year on year to 5.49 million mt in September. Shipments in the Philippines in September reached the highest level in the whole year. Indonesia still has 295,300 mt of nickel ore declared.

Nickel ore imports is expected to decline in October as the rainy season is approaching in the Philippines, and the shipment will slow down again.