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Nickel

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Cite this profile

The sources listed are the ones this profile uses, with the years their figures describe. The access date is today.

Indonesia refined 45% (IEA) of the world's nickel in 2025; Indonesia mined 67% (USGS).

67%

of the world's nickel was mined in Indonesia in 2025 (estimated), according to USGS · about 2 in 3

ANNUAL 2025

  • Leading mining country

    67%

    Indonesia, 2025 (estimated), USGS

  • Leading refining country

    45%

    Indonesia, 2025, IEA

  • Sites on record

    143

    Mines and plants in the open sources. Coverage is partial. Also on record: 127 deposits and projects, which are not counted.

  • Recycling's share of EU demand

    16%

    2022, EU only

OverviewSupply chainMoneySustainabilityRisks & policySourcesHistory & talk

Overview

Nickel comes from sulphide and laterite ores. It is used mainly in stainless steel and, as sulphate, in battery cathodes.

Map

Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain)
  • Share of world mine output
  • Mine or brine operation
  • Processing site
  • Deposit or project (not a mine or a plant yet)

Sites are those in the open sources. A site missing here is missing from the sources, not from the world.

2025

Key facts

Group
Battery metals
Stages in the atlas
Reserves · Mine · Process · Refine · Component · Recycle
World mine production, 2025
3 900 000 metric tons (estimated)
World refinery production, 2025
3 729 kt Ni
Open price series
Yes: monthly, in $/mt

Open on the globe →Flow diagram →

Leading countries

Mine · USGS, 2025 (estimated)

  1. Indonesiaabout 2 in 367%
  2. Philippinesabout 1 in 206.9%
  3. Russiaabout 1 in 205.1%
  4. Canadaabout 1 in 203.6%
  5. New Caledoniaabout 1 in 203.6%

Refine · IEA, 2025

  1. Indonesiaabout half45%
  2. Chinaabout 1 in 331%
  3. Canadaabout 1 in 203.4%
  4. Russiaabout 1 in 203.3%
  5. Japan2.9%

The five largest shares of each stage's latest table. One source per stage; the Supply chain tab has every source and every row.

Supply chain

Every stage with its table by country, the flow between stages, the largest recorded trade flows and the sites on record.

Reserves

Concentration

ANNUAL 2025

Indonesia holds about half (48 %) of the world's nickel reserves recorded here.

Reserves · 2025

(Data in metric tons, nickel content, unless otherwise specified)

Top 3 countries
79.2 %
Indonesia, Australia, Brazil

Who holds what

Mine

Concentration

ANNUAL 2025

Indonesia mines about 2 in 3 (67 %) of the world's nickel recorded here.

Mine production · 2025 (estimated)

(Data in metric tons, nickel content, unless otherwise specified)

Top 3 countries
78.7 %
Indonesia, Philippines, Russia

Who holds what

  • Indonesia2 600 000 t66.7 %
  • Other countries290 000 t7.4 %
  • Philippines270 000 t6.9 %
  • Russia200 000 t5.1 %
  • Canada140 000 t3.6 %
  • New Caledonia140 000 t3.6 %
  • China120 000 t3.1 %
  • Brazil70 000 t1.8 %
  • Australia45 000 t1.2 %
  • United States10 000 t0.3 %
  • World total3 900 000 t

Process

No data yet: Nickel, process stage

We have no sourced record for this. We never fill gaps with estimates.

Help add it

Refine

Concentration

ANNUAL 2025

Indonesia refines about half (45 %) of the world's nickel recorded here.

Refining (IEA) · 2025

kt = kilotonnes. Nickel refining includes nickel that is processed into a metal, oxide, nickel pig iron, ferronickel, or sulphate and excludes outputs from intermediate production steps.

Top 3 countries
79.5 %
Indonesia, China, Canada

Who holds what

  • Indonesia1 681 kt Ni45.1 %
  • China1 160 kt Ni31.1 %
  • Other countries367 kt Ni9.8 %
  • Canada125 kt Ni3.4 %
  • Russia123 kt Ni3.3 %
  • Japan108 kt Ni2.9 %
  • Norway100 kt Ni2.7 %
  • Brazil64 kt Ni1.7 %
  • World total3 729 kt Ni

Component

No data yet: Nickel, component stage

We have no sourced record for this. We never fill gaps with estimates.

Help add it

Recycle

No data yet: Nickel, recycle stage

We have no sourced record for this. We never fill gaps with estimates.

Help add it

Flow through the stages

Bars are each country's share of one stage, taken from one source. Bands are trade flows that customs data record between two countries. The two are measured differently, so a band's width says nothing about a bar's height. Where the data records nothing, the diagram says so.

Source for the country shares:One source at a time; figures from two sources are never mixed.

The diagram is wider than this screen. Swipe it sideways to see every stage.

MineMining (IEA) · 2025In trade flows only (no row in this table)ProcessNo open table by countryfor this stage in thissourceIn trade flows only (no row in this table)RefineRefining (IEA) · 2025In trade flows only (no row in this table)ComponentNo open record ofcomponent production bycountryIn trade flows only (no row in this table)Indonesia → China: 5 910.7 million USD, 2024Philippines → China: 1 364.7 million USD, 2024Canada → Norway: 1 100.3 million USD, 2024Indonesia → Japan: 1 039 million USD, 2024Zimbabwe → South Africa: 984.7 million USD, 2024Indonesia → China: 908.3 million USD, 2024Norway → Netherlands: 825.3 million USD, 2024Russia → China: 787.9 million USD, 2024Canada → USA: 744.5 million USD, 20245 more countries → China: 688.7 million USD, 2024Russian Federation → Finland: 666.7 million USD, 20245 more countries → Japan: 580.8 million USD, 2024China → Other Asia, nes: 574.5 million USD, 2024Netherlands → 5 more countries: 512 million USD, 2024Australia → Japan: 493.2 million USD, 2024Norway → 5 more countries: 474.9 million USD, 2024Philippines → Indonesia: 438.4 million USD, 2024Finland → Norway: 378.6 million USD, 2024Indonesia → United Kingdom: 350.8 million USD, 2024Finland → China: 322.5 million USD, 2024Russia → China: 320.9 million USD, 2024China → Singapore: 305.5 million USD, 2024Zambia → Canada: 255.7 million USD, 2024Zambia → 5 more countries: 238.6 million USD, 2024Canada → Netherlands: 236.5 million USD, 2024Finland → China: 215 million USD, 2024Norway → USA: 213.5 million USD, 2024Finland → Netherlands: 213.3 million USD, 2024New Caledonia → 5 more countries: 208.9 million USD, 2024Indonesia → Singapore: 198.4 million USD, 2024South Africa → 5 more countries: 186.3 million USD, 2024Russian Federation → China: 180 million USD, 2024Australia → China: 161.4 million USD, 2024Canada → 5 more countries: 159 million USD, 2024Indonesia → Other Asia, nes: 147.9 million USD, 2024Indonesia 62.7 %Philippines 11.5 %Russia 4.6 %China 3.5 %New Caledonia 3.3 %Canada 3.3 %Brazil 2.0 %Other / not attributed 9.2 %ZambiaFinlandAustraliaIndonesiaChinaCanadaZimbabweRussian FederationFinland5 more countriesIndonesia 45.1 %China 31.1 %Canada 3.4 %Russia 3.3 %Japan 2.9 %Norway 2.7 %Brazil 1.7 %Other / not attributed 9.9 %South AfricaFinlandNetherlandsAustraliaUnited KingdomChinaNetherlandsUSAOther Asia, nesSingaporeJapan5 more countriesRecycling back into supply: nickel 16.0 % (2022), EU only
  • Bar: a country's share of the stage's output. Height is the share. Sources:Mine 2025Refine 2025
  • Band: recorded trade, by value, 2024. In US dollars, not tonnes. Width compares flows of the same product only. A band runs from the exporter to the importer's place in the next stage; the data does not say what the importer did with the product. The data holds only the largest flows of the material: 40 of 2 944 flows, covering 67.1 % of traded value.
  • Dashed band: the customs code mixes grades or forms, so the stage of the product is uncertain. The table marks these with ≈.
  • Dashed box: a country that appears in a recorded trade flow but has no row in this stage's table. It has no share.
  • Not recorded: material processed in the country that mined it. Trade data only sees border crossings. A dotted line joins a country that appears in two neighbouring tables.
  • Return arrow: recycling's share of EU demand (end-of-life recycling input rate). EU only, so it cannot be compared with the world shares above. Width: 1 px at 0 % to 10 px at 100 %.
Table of what is drawn (38 country marks, 40 trade flows)
Country shares per stage, from IEA GCMO 2026.
StageCountryShareAmountSource
Mine 2025Indonesia62.7 %2 637 kt Ni
Mine 2025Philippines11.5 %482 kt Ni
Mine 2025Russia4.6 %192 kt Ni
Mine 2025China3.5 %147 kt Ni
Mine 2025New Caledonia3.3 %138 kt Ni
Mine 2025Canada3.3 %138 kt Ni
Mine 2025Brazil2.0 %85 kt Ni
Mine 2025Other / not attributed9.2 %388 kt Nithe source's own "other" row
Refine 2025Indonesia45.1 %1 681 kt Ni
Refine 2025China31.1 %1 160 kt Ni
Refine 2025Canada3.4 %125 kt Ni
Refine 2025Russia3.3 %123 kt Ni
Refine 2025Japan2.9 %108 kt Ni
Refine 2025Norway2.7 %100 kt Ni
Refine 2025Brazil1.7 %64 kt Ni
Refine 2025Other / not attributed9.9 %367 kt Nithe source's own "other" row
Recorded trade flows drawn as bands, by value, 2024. ≈ marks a customs code that mixes grades or forms.
Product of stageFrom → toMillion USDSource
Process ≈Indonesia → China3 905.5
ProcessIndonesia → China2 005.2
MinePhilippines → China1 364.7
ProcessCanada → Norway1 100.3
ProcessIndonesia → Japan1 039
ProcessZimbabwe → South Africa984.7
Refine ≈Norway → Netherlands825.3
Refine ≈Russian Federation → China787.9
Refine ≈Canada → USA744.5
ProcessRussian Federation → Finland666.7
Process ≈Philippines → Japan580.8
Refine ≈China → Other Asia, nes574.5
RefineIndonesia → China547.4
Refine ≈Australia → Japan493.2
MinePhilippines → Indonesia438.4
Process ≈Papua New Guinea → China421.7
ProcessFinland → Norway378.6
Refine ≈Indonesia → China360.9
Refine ≈Netherlands → Italy352.1
Process ≈Indonesia → United Kingdom350.8
MineFinland → China322.5
MineRussian Federation → China320.9
Refine ≈China → Singapore305.5
Refine ≈Norway → Fed. Rep. of Germany (...1990)270.1
Process ≈New Caledonia → China267
MineZambia → Canada255.7
MineZambia → Namibia238.6
Refine ≈Canada → Netherlands236.5
Process ≈Finland → China215
Refine ≈Norway → USA213.5
Refine ≈Finland → Netherlands213.3
MineNew Caledonia → Rep. of Korea208.9
Refine ≈Norway → France204.8
Refine ≈Indonesia → Singapore198.4
Refine ≈South Africa → Malaysia186.3
ProcessRussian Federation → China180
MineAustralia → China161.4
Refine ≈Netherlands → Belgium-Luxembourg (...1998)159.9
Refine ≈Canada → Belgium-Luxembourg (...1998)159
Refine ≈Indonesia → Other Asia, nes147.9

Countries drawn as dashed boxes (in trade flows only)

  • Mine: Zambia; Finland; Australia
  • Process: Indonesia; China; Canada; Zimbabwe; Russian Federation; Finland; 5 more countries (Philippines, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Namibia, Rep. of Korea)
  • Refine: South Africa; Finland; Netherlands; Australia; United Kingdom
  • Component: China; Netherlands; USA; Other Asia, nes; Singapore; Japan; 5 more countries (Italy, Belgium-Luxembourg (...1998), Fed. Rep. of Germany (...1990), France, Malaysia)

Recycling loop

  • Nickel: 16.0 % (2022, European Union)

Largest trade flows · 2024

Reconciled customs data (CEPII BACI), by value. Trade data lags: this is the latest complete year. 40 of 2 944 flows shown, covering 67.1 % of traded value.

Largest trade flows 2024
From → toProduct of stageMillion USDSource
Indonesia → ChinaProcess ≈3 905.5
Indonesia → ChinaProcess2 005.2
Philippines → ChinaMine1 364.7
Canada → NorwayProcess1 100.3
Indonesia → JapanProcess1 039
Zimbabwe → South AfricaProcess984.7
Norway → NetherlandsRefine ≈825.3
Russian Federation → ChinaRefine ≈787.9
Canada → USARefine ≈744.5
Russian Federation → FinlandProcess666.7

≈ marks a customs code that mixes grades or forms of the material, so stages cannot be told apart. Expert mode shows the codes.

Sites on record · 143 and 127 deposits and projects

270 of 270 shown

One entry per site. Where two sources describe the same site, the atlas lists the record of the source it ranks higher.

United States view: Nickel

These figures describe the United States only. They are not global figures.

Net import reliance · 2025
41 %
Import sources · 2021-24
  • Canada44 %
  • Norway11 %
  • Australia8 %
  • Brazil7 %
  • Other30 %
Scrap (circularity) · 2025 estimate
Value 2 440 million USDDomestic 79.89 %Imported 14.42 %Exported 5.69 %
Main uses
  • Batteries and metallurgy.

Money

The open price series where one exists, and one estimate with its formula. No licensed market data is shown.

Price

monthly, indicative

15 436$/mt, Oct 2026

+2.3% against a year earlier (Oct 2025: 15 092)

▲1▲2▲3▲4
Nov 201610-year range 8 932–33 924Oct 2026

Series as the World Bank defines it: Nickel (LME), cathodes, minimum 99.8% purity, settlement price beginning 2005; previously cash price. The World Bank compiles it from: Bloomberg Finance L.P.; Platts Metals Week, Thomson Reuters Datastream; World Bank. Monthly averages in nominal US dollars, for orientation only. Not a quote.

Export controls on the time axis

  1. ▲12017 · Tanzania · Ban (Export ban)
  2. ▲22020 · Indonesia · Ban (Export ban)
  3. ▲32024 · Laos · Ban (Export ban)

USGS gives the year of each control only, so a mark sits at the start of that year. A mark shows when a control took effect; it does not say the control moved the price.

Public support instruments on the time axis (those whose source names the material)

  1. ▲42024-05-23 · European Union · Joint purchasing

A mark sits at the month of the instrument's date. It shows when the instrument was announced, signed or took effect; it does not say the instrument moved the price.

Estimated production value

estimated

$59bnestimated value of world nickel mine production, 2025

How it is computed

Estimated value = world mine production of the year × the average of that year's monthly prices. Both inputs are reported figures; the product is an estimate made by the atlas.

World mine production, 2025 (estimated)
3 900 000 metric tons
USGS MCS 2026, Mine production. The series is in metric tons and the price is in US dollars per metric ton, so no conversion is needed.
Average price, 2025
15 162 $/mt
Mean of the 12 monthly averages of 2025.

3.9 Mt × 15 162 $/mt ≈ $59bn

Mined metal is not all sold at this price: concentrates sell at a discount and contracts differ. Read it as an order of magnitude.

Investment pipeline

announced figures

Planned and under-construction nickel projects with a publicly announced capital cost, public financial backing, or both. Each line is one statement by the named publisher on the given date; the atlas adds nothing to it.

  • Kabanga Nickel ProjectPlannedMine

    Lifezone Metals Limited · northwestern Tanzania · Tanzania · Nickel, Copper, Cobalt

    “on track for a Final Investment Decision (FID) in 2026” · status as printed on 2025-12-11

    Announced capital cost

    USD 942 M2025-07-18

    Pre-production capital costs, including 9.7% contingency (Feasibility Study, initial development phase) · Lifezone Metals Limited

    The publisher's words: “Pre-production capital costs of $942 million, including 9.7% contingency.”
    Public backing

    • no amount statedLetter of interest · “Letter of Interest” · 2024-09-23

      U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

      The publisher's words: “has received a Letter of Interest from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) that expressed DFC’s interest in considering the Project for loans”

A short, hand-read list, not a census: 19 projects in all. Announced amounts are not spending, a letter of interest or a conditional commitment is not a loan, and amounts stay in the currency of the announcement.

Public support instruments

Stockpiles, price floors, offtake and purchasing programmes and public funds whose source names nickel, and general critical-minerals instruments (marked). Each is one statement by its publisher.

  1. 2024-05-23in force from · European UnionJoint purchasingin force

    The Critical Raw Materials Act obliges the Commission to run a demand-aggregation and joint-purchasing system for strategic raw materials and to set a benchmark for strategic stocks.

    Covers: “strategic raw materials” · Materials: Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Lithium, Graphite, Nickel, Rare earths, Tungsten

    The publisher's words: “The Commission shall set up and operate a system to aggregate the demand of interested undertakings consuming strategic raw materials established in the Union”
    2 further statements from the source

    joint negotiation of purchases allowed (Article 25(5))

    The publisher's words: “may, on a transparent basis, jointly negotiate the purchase, including the prices or other terms and conditions of the purchasing agreement”

    coordination of strategic stocks (Article 23)

    The publisher's words: “shall adopt a benchmark indicating a safe level of Union strategic stocks of strategic raw materials”

  2. 2025-06-17announced · G7Other supportannounced

    G7 leaders launched a Critical Minerals Action Plan with a roadmap for standards-based markets and a call for more public and private capital for critical minerals projects.

    Covers: “critical minerals”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name nickel

    The publisher's words: “We will develop a roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals”
    3 further statements from the source

    launch of the plan

    The publisher's words: “We are launching a G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan”

    roadmap content

    The publisher's words: “The roadmap will establish a set of criteria that constitute a minimum threshold for standards-based markets”

    capital mobilisation

    The publisher's words: “We encourage our export credit agencies and development finance institutions (DFIs) to identify more opportunities for collaboration”

  3. 2025-11-04published · CanadaFundannounced

    Budget 2025 proposes a Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund at Natural Resources Canada for equity investments, loan guarantees and offtake agreements, and a First and Last Mile Fund.

    CAD 2 bn · “$2 billion over five years, on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27”

    Covers: “critical minerals projects and companies”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name nickel

    The publisher's words: “provide $2 billion over five years, on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27, to Natural Resources Canada to create the Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund”
    3 further statements from the source

    tools of the fund

    The publisher's words: “including equity investments, loan guarantees, and offtake agreements”

    First and Last Mile Fund

    The publisher's words: “provide $371.8 million over four years, starting in 2026-27, to Natural Resources Canada to create the First and Last Mile Fund”

    absorbs the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund

    The publisher's words: “would absorb the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund and leverage its existing funding envelope to provide up to $1.5 billion in support through 2029-30”

  4. 2025-11-22published · United KingdomFundannounced

    The UK critical minerals strategy Vision 2035 announces public funding for critical mineral projects and says stockpiling through procurement will be considered for the defence sector.

    GBP 50 M · “up to £50 million”

    Covers: “critical mineral projects in the UK”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name nickel

    The publisher's words: “funding of up to £50 million will be made available by DBT to support critical mineral projects”
    2 further statements from the source

    stockpiling under consideration

    The publisher's words: “Measures could include stockpiling, including through procurement mechanisms”

    later programme page (published 22 June 2026): grant share

    The publisher's words: “with £45 million of this available as grant funding”

  5. 2026-01-14signed · United StatesPrice floorannounced

    Presidential proclamation under section 232 directing negotiations on imports of processed critical minerals, in which price floors for trade in critical minerals are to be considered.

    Covers: “processed critical minerals and their derivative products (PCMDPs)”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name nickel

    The publisher's words: “the Secretary and the Trade Representative should consider price floors for trade in critical minerals and other trade-restricting measures”

  6. 2026-02-02announced · United StatesStockpileannounced

    The Export-Import Bank approved a direct loan for Project Vault, a public-private partnership that is to establish a U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve storing raw materials for manufacturers.

    USD 10 bn · “a Direct Loan of up to $10 billion”

    Covers: “essential raw materials”

    critical minerals in general; the source does not name nickel

    The publisher's words: “the EXIM Board of Directors approved a Direct Loan of up to $10 billion to Project Vault”
    4 further statements from the source

    what it establishes

    The publisher's words: “a supply chain security initiative establishing the U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve”

    storage

    The publisher's words: “that will store essential raw materials in facilities across the United States”

    borrower structure

    The publisher's words: “providing long-term financing to a partnership between original equipment manufacturers and private sector capital providers”

    later EXIM release of May 4, 2026 restating the loan

    The publisher's words: “The transaction includes a direct loan of up to $10 billion”

The instruments whose source names nickel are also marked on the price chart above, at the month of their date. A mark does not say the instrument moved the price.

These figures are informational, not financial advice.

Sustainability

Four indicators, the same on every profile. Each is a figure with its unit, year and source, or a plain statement that there is none.

  • Carbon

    Grid-carbon proxy: the grid intensity of the refining countries, weighted by their share of refining.

    577gCO2e/kWh

    2025Estimated

    Higher than all 6 other materials with a computed proxy.

    • Covers the countries behind 90% of refinery output (Refining (IEA), 2025).
    • Average grid emissions intensity of the countries that refine the material, weighted by each country's share of refinery output in the source table. Countries without a grid figure are left out and the covered share is stated. A proxy for the electricity behind refining, not a product footprint: plants may run on their own power.

  • Water

    Share of the material's mine sites on record that lie in high or extremely high baseline water stress.

    4.5%of mine sites on record

    2023Estimated

    Higher than 14% of the other 7 materials with rated mine sites.

    • 5 of 111 sites with a class (111 mine and brine sites on record).
    • Counted by site, not by tonnage: it is not a share of production.
    • "Arid and Low Water Use" is a class of its own in the source and is not counted as high.

  • Land

    Land visibly used by mining.

    Not available per material: the area is mapped per country for all commodities together.

    • Mapped from satellite images for all mining in a country. It cannot be attributed to one material or one site.

  • Circularity

    Recycling's share of EU demand (end-of-life recycling input rate).

    16%of EU demand

    2022Reported

    Higher than 75% of the other 8 elements in the atlas with a published EU rate.

    • Published for the EU as a whole. It cannot be compared with world shares.
    • End-of-life recycling input rate: the share of EU demand met by recycling old scrap. EU only. Values differ between assessment years partly because the method changed.
    • 8 EU targets apply to this material; they are listed below.

There is no overall score: the four figures measure different things and are not added up. How to read these figures

The figures behind the indicators

Grid-carbon proxy for refining

estimated · proxy

577gCO2e per kWh

Covers the countries behind 90.1% of refinery output (Refining (IEA), 2025)

CountryShare of refiningGrid intensity
Indonesia45.1%7052025
China31.1%5282025
Canada3.4%1922025
Russia3.3%4472025
Japan2.9%4742025
Norway2.7%282025
Brazil1.7%1092025

Average grid emissions intensity of the countries that refine the material, weighted by each country's share of refinery output in the source table. Countries without a grid figure are left out and the covered share is stated. A proxy for the electricity behind refining, not a product footprint: plants may run on their own power.

Water stress where the mines are

estimated · by site

4.5%of mine sites on record lie in high or extremely high water stress (5 of 111)

  • Low (<10%)69 sites
  • Low - Medium (10-20%)8 sites
  • Medium - High (20-40%)3 sites
  • High (40-80%)4 sites
  • Extremely High (>80%)1 site
  • Arid and Low Water Use26 sites

Of the mines and brine operations the atlas has on record for the material, the share that lies in a sub-basin with high or extremely high baseline water stress (WRI Aqueduct 4.0). Counted by site, not by tonnage: the atlas has no output figure for most sites, so this is not a share of production. "Arid and Low Water Use" is the source's own class for dry sub-basins with little demand; it is shown apart (hatched) because it is not a stress level.

Circularity

Recycling's share of EU demand (end-of-life recycling input rate)

Material2013201620192022
Nickel32%33.9%17%16%

End-of-life recycling input rate: the share of EU demand met by recycling old scrap. EU only. Values differ between assessment years partly because the method changed. The latest published figure is for 2022.

EU targets that apply

Read in the original Official Journal version; later amendments are not reflected.

Risks & policy

Export controls in force

Compiled by USGS, effective January 2026. Not a live feed.

  • ▲ BanIndonesia2020

    Export ban: Bauxite (2023), copper concentrates (2023), and nickel ore (2020).

    Source ↗
  • ▲ BanLaos2024

    Export ban: Raw minerals, including copper, gold, iron, nickel, potassium, silver, and zinc (2024).

    Source ↗
  • ▲ BanTanzania2017

    Export ban: Ore concentrates of copper, gold, nickel, and silver (2017).

    Source ↗

Chokepoints at sea

The atlas has no record of which minerals pass through which sea passage, so no chokepoint figure is attached to this profile. Current ship counts for the main passages are on the Live page. Open the Live page

What if?

Three calculators run on the figures of this profile. Each shows its formula and what it leaves out; none is a forecast.

What the atlas does not know about nickel

How much of the chain is on record, which producer countries have no site in the atlas, how mining and refining compare, and whether a price is open.

Data coverage

Mines on record: 89.1% (8/9)

Plants on record: 52.8% (4/7)

Owner or operator known: 22.4% (7/9)

Assurance known: no public assurance list is ingested yet

  • Mines:89% of world output lies in countries with a record (8 of 9 countries)(Mine production, 2025)

    Producer countries without a record: China 3.1%

  • Processing plants:53% of world output lies in countries with a record (4 of 7 countries)(Refining (IEA), 2025)

    Producer countries without a record: China 31%, Russia 3.3%, Japan 2.9%

  • Owners and operators:22% of world output lies in countries with a record (7 of 9 countries)(Mine production, 2025)

    Producer countries without a record: Indonesia 67%, China 3.1%

  • Assurance: No public assurance list is ingested yet

A country in these lists marks missing data, not missing industry.

Mining and refining: who leads

  • IEA GCMO 2026, 2025

    • Mining:Indonesia 63% (about 3 in 5), 2025
    • Refining:Indonesia 45% (about half), 2025

Price transparency

An open price series exists: Nickel, monthly average. It is on the Money tab.

Add dataAll gaps, across materials

Sources

Every source this profile uses, with its licence, the years its figures describe and how sure the figures are. Each chip on the profile opens the single record.

Source registry for this material

History & talk

Revision history and discussion are coming soon.

Every change to a figure will be listed here with its source, its credit and its review, and each profile will have a place to discuss it. Until then the data changes only when a source is updated, and every figure links to that source.

What can be contributed today

Type the name of a material, a country, a site or a company.