SHANGHAI, Dec 2 (SMM) – Data released by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS) on November 17 showed that from January to September this year, the global apparent nickel consumption totalled 2,151,700 mt, approximately 108,500 mt more than the output of 2.04 million mt.

In 2020, the global output of refined nickel was 84,000 mt higher than the apparent consumption. At the end of September 2021, the reported nickel inventory of the London Metal Exchange (LME) decreased by 117,000 mt from the end of last year.

From January to September, the global nickel ore output was 1.97 million mt, a year-on-year increase of 207,000 mt. China's smelted and refined nickel output increased by 81,000 mt year-on-year, and the apparent consumption increased by 211,000 mt year-on-year to 1.22 million mt.

The output of smelted and refined nickel in Indonesia increased by 43% year-on-year to 632,600 mt, and the demand nearly doubled year-on-year to 287,900 mt. The global apparent nickel consumption increased by 40 mt year-on-year.

In September, the global smelted and refined nickel output was 253,200 mt, while the demand was 275,300 mt.