Nickel Market Sees Strong Supply Sentiment, Cautious Demand, and High Premiums for High-Grade Resources

Published: May 8, 2026 15:55

Save

[SMM Nickel Flash] May 8: On the supply side, the sentiment to hold prices firm remained strong, premiums for high-grade resources were still evident, and the structural divergence in overall supply intensified. On the demand side, steel mills were cautious in purchasing, enterprises that had already restocked before the holiday showed low willingness to purchase, and acceptance of high price quotes was weak. The market overall presented a standoff pattern of firm quotes, cautious purchasing, and limited transactions, with prices likely to fluctuate at highs and move sideways in the short term.

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

1 hour ago

[SMM Analysis] May 2026 Global (Ex-China) Stainless Steel Market Review, Indonesia Export Six-Month Rally Ends

The global stainless steel market navigated a series of sharp sentiment. The opening weeks saw Indonesia's mill closures and price hikes push the cost narrative to its highest point of the year, before a combination of easing geopolitical tensions triggered the first price reduction since December 2025. The month's defining characteristic was similar to April's. What differentiated May was the sharply higher amplitude of both the policy signals and the emotional swings that accompanied them.

1 hour ago

Nickel Market Sees Stable Futures, Tightening Spot Liquidity, and Cautious Trading Amid Price Resistance

[SMM Nickel News] June 15 update: Floor trading still mainly adopts the futures average price plus premium model, and spot cargo liquidity is tightening. Overall, with futures stabilizing and market sentiment recovering, suppliers' willingness to hold prices firm is strengthening, but downstream procurement pace is cautious, and landing of high-priced supply still faces resistance. In the short term, the market may continue the trend of firm offers and mild trading game.

1 hour ago

3 hours ago

Data: SHFE, DCE market movement (Jun 15)

The following table shows the ferrous and nonferrous metals movement on the SHFE and DCE on 15 Jun , 2026

3 hours ago