[SMM Nickel Flash News] Indonesia Focuses on Supplementary RKAB Process, No Signal on National Nickel Quota Increase

Published: Jun 30, 2026 16:45

Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and Parliament's Commission XII focused today's discussions on the procedures and requirements for supplementary 2026 nickel RKAB applications, rather than announcing any increase in the national nickel mining quota. Applications for additional quotas can only be submitted from 1-31 July 2026, with approvals to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Any additional mining quotas are expected to prioritize miners with integrated domestic smelting capacity, while the final volume of supplementary allocations remains under review.

Market Impact: The meeting provided no indication of a nationwide increase in the 2026 nickel RKAB quota, leaving market speculation of a significant quota expansion unconfirmed.

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
[SMM Flash News] Major Indonesian Industrial Park Published Latest Philippine Nickel Ore Tender
6 hours ago
[SMM Flash News] Major Indonesian Industrial Park Published Latest Philippine Nickel Ore Tender
Read More
[SMM Flash News] Major Indonesian Industrial Park Published Latest Philippine Nickel Ore Tender
[SMM Flash News] Major Indonesian Industrial Park Published Latest Philippine Nickel Ore Tender
A major nickel industrial park in Indonesia has published its latest tender for Philippine nickel ore, with 1.3% Ni grade ore awarded at US$45/wmt CIF and 1.4% Ni grade ore at US$56/wmt CIF. The latest tender indicates continued procurement demand for Philippine nickel ore, with higher-grade material maintaining a notable premium over lower-grade cargoes.
6 hours ago
[SMM Flash News] China’s Nickel Ore Imports Remain Elevated in June as Philippine Supply Dominates
6 hours ago
[SMM Flash News] China’s Nickel Ore Imports Remain Elevated in June as Philippine Supply Dominates
Read More
[SMM Flash News] China’s Nickel Ore Imports Remain Elevated in June as Philippine Supply Dominates
[SMM Flash News] China’s Nickel Ore Imports Remain Elevated in June as Philippine Supply Dominates
China imported approximately 5.86 million mt of nickel ore in June 2026, down 1.6% MoM from 5.95 million mt in May. Imports from the Philippines remained broadly stable at 5.45 million mt, accounting for around 93% of the total, as the dry-season shipment peak continued. Shipments from New Caledonia fell 48% MoM to 117,400 mt, while imports from Guatemala more than tripled to 170,600 mt, partially offsetting declines from other suppliers. Overall imports remained at historically elevated levels, reflecting strong seasonal availability from the Philippines, although the high concentration of supply continues to expose the market to weather-related shipment disruptions.
6 hours ago
[SMM Flash]June 2026 China Sulphur & Sulphuric Acid Trade Summary
10 hours ago
[SMM Flash]June 2026 China Sulphur & Sulphuric Acid Trade Summary
Read More
[SMM Flash]June 2026 China Sulphur & Sulphuric Acid Trade Summary
[SMM Flash]June 2026 China Sulphur & Sulphuric Acid Trade Summary
In June 2026, China's total sulphur imports amounted to approximately 195,000 metric tons (mt), down 27.3% month-on-month and down 81.1% year-on-year, originated primarily from Canada, South Korea, Japan, the UAE, Brunei, Singapore, and Kazakhstan. China's total sulphur exports amounted to approximately 238 mt, down 56.5% month-on-month, with major destinations including Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, and North Korea. China's total sulphuric acid imports amounted to approximately 3,000 mt (reference value, subject to final customs data), sourced primarily from Taiwan, China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, and the United States. China's total sulphuric acid exports amounted to approximately 16,000 mt, down 84.5% month-on-month and down 96.0% year-on-year, with major destinations including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Tanzania, and Togo.
10 hours ago