Nickel Market Sees Supply-Demand Divergence, High-Grade Premiums Persist Amid Sluggish Trading

Published: May 13, 2026 16:18

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[SMM Nickel Flash] May 13: Supply-demand divergence remained significant. Supply side, some enterprises still had high-price transaction support, with notable premiums on high-grade resources, but arbitrage selling persisted and the willingness to hold prices firm weakened marginally. Downstream steel mills, dragged down by sluggish stainless steel sales, saw continuously declining acceptance of high prices, with purchasing intentions concentrated at 1,130-1,150 yuan/nickel unit. Overall market trading activity was subdued.

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