China’s nickel ore imports rose 25% in May as lockdown restrictions eased in the Philippines

SHANGHAI, Jun 28 (SMM) – China’s imports of nickel ore and concentrate rebounded on the month in May, rising 24.83% from a month ago to 1.68 million mt, as deliveries resumed from the top supplier the Philippines as the country eased lockdown measures imposed to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On a yearly basis, the overall imports were 67.6% lower in May. 

The latest data from China customs showed that China imported 1.34 million mt of nickel ore and concentrate from the Philippines last month, up 22.4% from April but 60% lower than the same month of 2019.

Indonesia was the second-largest supplier of nickel ore and concentrate for China in May, with China’s imports of Indonesian nickel ore standing at 156,452.9 mt, up 239.78% on the month while down 90.75% on the year.