China to see higher-grade NPI output

SHANGHAI, Jan 4 (SMM)－ China has seen more higher-grade production of nickel pig iron (NPI) as the country imported more nickel ore from Indonesia in 2017.

While the Philippines remains the largest supplier of nickel ore to China last year, imports from Indonesia grew over eight folds in the first 11 months of 2017, according to the latest customs data.

Materials from Indonesia typically are of better grade than those from the Philippines.

SMM learned that one major NPI plant in east China saw products with 10-11% Ni, while it was only producing NPI with 8.5-9% Ni a year ago.

This means that the nickel content of NPI would increase by 20% on the same weight basis.  

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