China Hydrometallurgical Intermediate Nickel Products Grew Significantly in March

Published: May 16, 2023 16:26
Source: SMM
China imported 129,000 mt of hydrometallurgical intermediate nickel products in March, an increase of 13% MoM, which is equivalent to 24,600 mt in Ni content, up 10% MoM. From January to March, a total of 318,900 mt of intermediate products were imported, which is equivalent to about 24,600 mt in Ni content (SMM data is calculated based on wet metric tonne, and the figure may be lower than the actual reading considering the import declaration differences).

China imported 129,000 mt of hydrometallurgical intermediate nickel products in March, an increase of 13% MoM, which is equivalent to 24,600 mt in Ni content, up 10% MoM. From January to March, a total of 318,900 mt of intermediate products were imported, which is equivalent to about 24,600 mt in Ni content (SMM data is calculated based on wet metric tonne, and the figure may be lower than the actual reading considering the import declaration differences).

Imports from Indonesia jumped by 22,943 mt, contributing to most of the growth in China’s total imports.

The import volume of high nickel matte in March was 20,000 mt, a rise of 3% month-on-month, and the cumulative imports from January to March totalled 64,600 mt, up 361% year-on-year. Imports from Indonesia stood at 19,300 mt.

More popular news:


'Bond King' Jeffrey Gundlach Says Sharp Fed Rate Cuts By Year-End Will Push Up Gold Prices

Rio Tinto Warns of Risks for Paying High Premiums for Lithium Mines after Plunging Lithium Prices Triggered Acquisition Rush

Citigroup Warns European Commercial Real Estate Values Will Plummet 40%, But Sees Medium-Term Opportunity

IMF: US Debt Defaults Will Take a Heavy Toll on Global Economy, Global GDP Growth Can Plunge

Goldman Sachs Warns of Serious Risks US Dollar Will Lose Reserve Currency Status on Debt Ceiling Standoff

Goldman Sachs Sees European Gas Prices Tripling, Gives Price Forecast in H2 2023

BofA Sharply Lowers Forecast for Oil Price, Global Oil Consumption in 2023

UBS Raises China GDP Growth Forecast, Sees Earnings from China Stock Market Soaring, RMB Appreciating

Global Aluminium Inventory to Plunge Further amid Supply Headwinds, LME Aluminium Prices to React Fast

Takeaways of Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway’s 2023 Annual Meeting

High Lithium Ore Prices in Australia will Drive Lithium Prices Rebound, Reasons Prevent Output to Grow

Sharp Output Cuts Led to Lithium Ore Shortages, High Import Prices Drove Lithium Salt Producers to Shut Down

US Treasury Bill Rates Soar to Record High on Debt Ceiling Jitters

Russia is Accelerating Technology to Become Top Liquefied Natural Gas Supplier by Tripling Exports By 2030

No Other Country can Replace China's Manufacturing Industry Including India

Global Manufacturing PMI in April Points to Greater Downward Pressure on Global Economy

SMM Daily Comments (May 5): LME Base Metals Rose across the Board, SHFE Nickel Plunged

SMM Daily Comments (May 9): Most LME Base Metals Closed Lower, SHFE Nickel Prices Plunge, Ferrous Metals Mostly Rose

SMM Daily Comments (May 12): SHFE Base Metals and Silver Prices Crashed, Most LME Base Metals Prices Went Down, Oil Posted 3-Day Losing Streak

A Bull Gold Market Has Just Begun 

Fitch Ratings Raises Saudi Arabia IDR, Says World Bank Reason and High Dependence on Oil Remain a Weakness for the Country's Rating

Copper Shortage Is Irreparable Even after Biggest Mergers and Acquisitions, Here’s Why

Buffett Talks about Banking Crisis and Bank Stocks He Bought, Munger Warned Commercial Real Estate: the City Will Be Seriously Hollowed Out

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Domestic High-Grade NPI Costs Drop, but Profit Margins Squeeze Amid Falling Selling Prices
Sep 11, 2026 18:00
Domestic High-Grade NPI Costs Drop, but Profit Margins Squeeze Amid Falling Selling Prices
Read More
Domestic High-Grade NPI Costs Drop, but Profit Margins Squeeze Amid Falling Selling Prices
Domestic High-Grade NPI Costs Drop, but Profit Margins Squeeze Amid Falling Selling Prices
[SMM Nickel Flash] Domestic high-grade NPI production costs declined this week. Lower Philippine nickel ore prices, coupled with a pullback in coke prices, reduced smelting raw material costs. However, NPI selling prices fell significantly over the same period, dragging on profitability and narrowing profit margins for domestic smelters.
Sep 11, 2026 18:00
SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Price Drops to 1,095.5 Yuan/Unit, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls to $141.14/Unit
Sep 11, 2026 18:00
SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Price Drops to 1,095.5 Yuan/Unit, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls to $141.14/Unit
Read More
SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Price Drops to 1,095.5 Yuan/Unit, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls to $141.14/Unit
SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Price Drops to 1,095.5 Yuan/Unit, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls to $141.14/Unit
[SMM Nickel Flash] The average price of SMM 10-12% high-grade NPI fell by 17.7 yuan/nickel unit WoW to 1,095.5 yuan/nickel unit (ex-factory, tax included), while the average price of the Indonesia NPI FOB index dropped by $2.93/nickel unit WoW to $141.14/nickel unit. This week, the high-grade NPI market continued to weaken, with the price center moving steadily lower. Upstream and downstream price negotiations intensified, and the market entered a stalemate, consolidating at lows.
Sep 11, 2026 18:00
[SMM Analysis] High-Grade NPI Prices Decline as Supply Recovers and Market Activity Slows
Sep 11, 2026 17:45
[SMM Analysis] High-Grade NPI Prices Decline as Supply Recovers and Market Activity Slows
Read More
[SMM Analysis] High-Grade NPI Prices Decline as Supply Recovers and Market Activity Slows
[SMM Analysis] High-Grade NPI Prices Decline as Supply Recovers and Market Activity Slows
The average price of SMM 10-12% high-grade NPI fell WoW by 17.7 yuan/nickel unit to 1,095.5 yuan/nickel unit (ex-factory, tax included), and the average price of the Indonesia NPI FOB index fell WoW by $2.93/nickel unit to $141.14/nickel unit. This week, the high-grade NPI market continued to weaken, with the price center shifting steadily lower. Price negotiations between upstream and downstream intensified, and the market entered a phase of stagnant consolidation at lows.
Sep 11, 2026 17:45