[SMM Nickel Midday Review] Nickel prices rose slightly on June 3, with China's manufacturing PMI at 49.5% in May

Published: Jun 3, 2025 11:56

SMM Nickel News on June 3:

Macro News:

(1) Tariffs - ① European and US trade officials will meet on Wednesday, with the EU reiterating warnings of tariff retaliation. ② Foreign media: Seeking to accelerate negotiations, Trump demands countries submit their "best offers" by Wednesday. ③ The Trump administration appeals the order from the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia ruling its tariff policy "unlawful." ④ Japanese Prime Minister: No intention to make concessions on US tariff issues.

(2) On May 31, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) and the Service Industry Survey Center of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced China's PMI for May. The manufacturing PMI for May was 49.5%, up 0.5 percentage points MoM.

Spot Market:

Today, the SMM 1# refined nickel price is 121,400-124,300 yuan/mt, with an average price of 122,850 yuan/mt, up 525 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The mainstream spot premium quotation range for Jinchuan #1 refined nickel is 2,500-2,600 yuan/mt, with an average premium of 2,550 yuan/mt, down 50 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The premiums and discounts quotation range for Russian nickel is 100-500 yuan/mt, with an average premium of 300 yuan/mt, up 50 yuan/mt from the previous trading day.

Futures Market:

The most-traded SHFE nickel contract (NI2507) opened higher this morning, regaining the 122,000 yuan/mt level during the session, mainly exhibiting a fluctuating trend. As of 11:30, the closing price was 121,380 yuan/mt, up 0.25%.

In the medium and long term, the global nickel overcapacity issue remains unresolved, with the nickel market under triple pressure of "high supply, weak demand, and tight funding." In the short term, the bottom of the fluctuating range is seen at 118,000 yuan/mt, with the top under pressure at 123,000 yuan/mt.

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 to learn 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
High-Grade NPI Smelter Profits Squeezed as Ore Prices Rise and Sales Prices Dip
18 hours ago
High-Grade NPI Smelter Profits Squeezed as Ore Prices Rise and Sales Prices Dip
Read More
High-Grade NPI Smelter Profits Squeezed as Ore Prices Rise and Sales Prices Dip
High-Grade NPI Smelter Profits Squeezed as Ore Prices Rise and Sales Prices Dip
[SMM Nickel Flash] Based on nickel ore prices from 25 days ago, smelter profits for high-grade NPI remained high this week. However, from the current raw material side, ore prices from both the Philippines and Indonesia increased, while auxiliary material prices saw a slight pullback, leading to an increase in the cash cost of producing high-grade NPI from spot ore. At the same time, high-grade NPI prices experienced some pullback, making it difficult for smelter profits to see sustained improvement.
18 hours ago
High-Grade NPI Prices Fall, Expected to Stabilize as Chinese New Year Approaches
18 hours ago
High-Grade NPI Prices Fall, Expected to Stabilize as Chinese New Year Approaches
Read More
High-Grade NPI Prices Fall, Expected to Stabilize as Chinese New Year Approaches
High-Grade NPI Prices Fall, Expected to Stabilize as Chinese New Year Approaches
[SMM Nickel Flash] This week, due to a sharp decline in futures triggering arbitrage selling, high-grade NPI prices fell significantly. However, after the selling activity subsided, upstream quotations and the market center gradually returned to normal levels, supported by cost factors. Looking ahead, as the Chinese New Year holiday approaches, market activity is expected to remain subdued, and high-grade NPI prices are projected to hover at highs with limited fluctuations.
18 hours ago
Nickel Prices Drop: SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Down 17.2 Yuan, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls 2.06 $/mtu
18 hours ago
Nickel Prices Drop: SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Down 17.2 Yuan, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls 2.06 $/mtu
Read More
Nickel Prices Drop: SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Down 17.2 Yuan, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls 2.06 $/mtu
Nickel Prices Drop: SMM 10-12% High-Grade NPI Down 17.2 Yuan, Indonesia NPI FOB Index Falls 2.06 $/mtu
[SMM Nickel Flash] The SMM average price of 10-12% high-grade NPI fell 17.2 yuan/mtu WoW to 1,035.8 yuan/mtu (ex-factory, tax included), while the Indonesia NPI FOB index average price dropped 2.06 $/mtu WoW to 131.2 $/mtu. At the beginning of the week, futures hit limit-down, and nickel prices fell sharply WoW, driving the emergence of arbitrage supplies sold at low prices, leading to a significant decline in high-grade NPI prices.
18 hours ago