China's Refined Nickel Imports Totalled 14,441 mt in Dec 2022

SHANGHAI, Feb 14 (SMM) - According to customs data, China imported 14,441 mt of refined nickel (including unwrought unalloyed nickel with the total amount of nickel and cobalt ≥99.99% and cobalt ≤0.005%, and other unwrought unalloyed nickel) in December 2022, down 0.55% MoM and 46.41% YoY.

Among them, the imports of other unwrought alloy nickel accounted for 86.89% of the total imports and stood at 12,547 mt, a drop of 47% year-on-year. The import volume of unalloyed nickel powder and flake powder (HS code 75040010) was 1,670 mt, up 67.78% MoM, but down 61.91% YoY.

Imports of nickel briquette amounted to 2,746 mt, down 18.145% from the previous month and down 53% on a yearly basis. The biggest supplier of pure nickel imports was Russia (7,582 mt), followed by Australia (1,608 mt), Canada (1,600 mt), and Norway.