Exclusive: China's nickel otuput fell to 12,400 mt in May

SHANGHAI, Jun 9 (SMM) — The national refined nickel output decreased 590 mt or 4.53% month on month to 12,400 mt in May, and operating rates stood at 57%.

Among them, Gansu smelter carried out overhaul of the top-blowing furnace, but maintained the overall normal production, with the affected output within 1,000 mt. Xinjiang smelter continued to produce normally, achieving an output of 1,074 mt. Jilin smelter resumed production in May, with the output at 350 mt. The refined nickel production was still in suspension in the smelters in Shandong, Tianjin, and Guangxi.

Output of refined nickel is expected to stand at 13,600 mt in June 2021, as Gansu smelter is expected to resume normal production from the maintenance, and Jilin smelter will recover production at full capacity.