Raw Material Supply Tightness Weighs Heavily on Nickel Salt Enterprises

SHANGHAI, Mar 6 (SMM) - Profit margins of nickel sulphate companies dropped further last week. Demand for nickel sulphate is increasing, while the commissioning of new MHP capacity was delayed, which forced the nickel salt factories to accept high-priced raw materials and further dragged down the profit margins of nickel salt plants. In January, some high-grade nickel matte-based production lines were switched to produce NPI, tightening the high-grade nickel matte supply. The increase in the prices of raw materials and the low purchase prices offered by downstream companies brought nickel salt plants lower profit margins or even losses.