Nickel

Canadian Minerals Yearbook (CMY) - 2009

Prepared by the Minerals and Metals Sector,
Natural Resources Canada.
Telephone: 613-947-6580
E-mail: info-mms@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Canada produced 136 594 t of nickel from mine production in 2009, down from 259 588 t in 2008.
  • Canada exported 210 000 t of nickel products in 2009 valued at $3.5 billion, down from 325 000 t valued at $7.5 billion in 2008.
  • Supply and demand for nickel in 2010 are expected to be in balance with the production forecast, approaching 1.40 Mt, and with the usage forecast at 1.39 Mt.

World primary nickel production of refined and other forms of finished nickel in 2009 was estimated by the International Nickel Study Group at 1.33 Mt, compared to primary nickel usage of 1.23 Mt. This was down from production of 1.38 Mt and usage of 1.28 Mt in 2008.

CANADIAN PRODUCTION AND TRADE

In 2009, Canadian mine production of nickel was 136 594 t. Shipments of recoverable nickel in concentrates were 131 878 t and the production of primary refined nickel (Class I products with a nickel content of 99% or more and Class II products with a nickel content of less than 99%) was 116 909 t. Canadian use of primary nickel was reported as 5000 t. Canadian nickel exports in 2009 were 210 000 t valued at $3.5 billion, down from 325 000 t valued at $7.5 billion in 2008 due to lower domestic production and lower prices.

Ontario was the largest provincial producer of mined nickel, accounting for 33.6% of Canadian output of nickel in concentrates shipped in 2009; the vast majority of Ontario’s production was from the Sudbury Basin. Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec produced 23.7%, 21.3%, and 21.3%, respectively, of Canada’s output. Nickel was refined at Vale Inco’s Sudbury and Thompson refineries, as well as at The Cobalt Refining Company Inc. in Alberta. The Cobalt Refining Company’s main feed source for nickel was in the form of an intermediate nickel residue—a nickel and cobalt sulphide produced in Cuba at Moa Bay by leaching nickel laterite ore in sulphuric acid. The Xstrata Nickel smelter in Sudbury processed nickel concentrates and nickel-cobalt recyclables, and sent the matte to the Xstrata refinery in Norway for refining into nickel, copper, cobalt, and precious metals. Canada exported nickel and nickel products to more than 70 countries throughout the world. Its exports and imports of nickel in various products are shown in Table 2.

PRICES AND INVENTORIES

The London Metal Exchange (LME) cash settlement nickel price averaged US$14 644/t, a sharp decrease from the average of US$21 107/t in 2008. Prices started the year at US$12 710/t, peaked at US$19 628/t in August, and ended the year at US$18 640/t. The lowest price in 2009 was in March at US$9690/t (Figure 1). LME inventories opened at 72 822 t. By year-end, inventories had increased to 158 010 t.

NICKEL USE

Nickel’s resistance to corrosion, high strength over a wide temperature range, pleasing appearance, and suitability as an alloying agent make it useful in a wide variety of applications. The principal uses for primary nickel are: stainless steel (61%), other steel alloys (10%), nonferrous alloys (12%), metal plating applications (11%), and other nickel chemicals (6%). Nickel is intensively recycled; between 45% and 48% of nickel used to make stainless steel is in the form of stainless steel scrap.

OUTLOOK

Strong demand in 2009 stainless steel production has resulted in increased demand for primary nickel. The International Nickel Study Group (INSG) forecasts 2010 primary nickel production will approach 1.40 Mt, up from 1.33 Mt in 2009, an increase of 5.25%. World primary nickel usage for 2010 is also forecast to increase to 1.39 Mt from 1.22 Mt in 2009. Importantly, the 2010 forecast does not include any adjustment factor for possible production disruptions. Labour disputes, such as at the Vale Inco facilities, do not appear to be nearing a resolution. The current INSG view for 2010 is for a broadly balanced market.

Notes: (1) Additional information on nickel and producing nickel operations in Canada can be found in earlier editions of the “Canadian Minerals Yearbook.” (2) For definitions and valuation of mineral production, shipments and trade, please refer to the chapter entitled “Definitions and Valuation: Mineral Production, Shipments, and Trade.” (3) Information in this review was current as of March 31, 2010. (4) This and other reviews, including previous editions, are available on the Internet at www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/mms-smm/busi-indu/cmy-amc/com-eng.htm.

Note to Readers

The intent of this document is to provide general information and to elicit discussion. It is not intended as a reference, guide or suggestion to be used in trading, investment, or other commercial activities. The author and Natural Resources Canada make no warranty of any kind with respect to the content and accept no liability, either incidental, consequential, financial or otherwise, arising from the use of this document.

 

Figure 1
London Metal Exchange Cash and Three-Month Price for Nickel, 2009

London Metal Exchange Cash and Three-Month Price for Nickel, 2009

Source: London Metal Exchange.

 

Figure 2
World Primary Nickel Use

World Primary Nickel Use

Source: International Nickel Study Group.

Figure 3
London Metal Exchange Inventory for Nickel, 2009

London Metal Exchange Inventory for Nickel, 2009

Source: London Metal Exchange.

TARIFFS
Item No. Description Canada United States EU Japan
MFN GPT USA Canada Conventional Rate (1) WTO (2)
26.04 Nickel ores and concentrates Free Free Free Free Free Free
2620.99 Slag, ash and residues (other than from the manufacture of iron or steel) containing metals, arsenic or their compounds: other: other Free Free Free Free Free Free
2825.40 Hydrazine and hydroxylamine and their inorganic salt; other inorganic bases; other metal oxides, hydroxides and peroxides: nickel oxides and hydroxides Free Free Free Free Free 4.8%
2827.35 Chloride, chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides; bromides and bromide oxides; iodides and iodide oxides: other chlorides: of nickel 3.5% 3% Free Free 5.5% 3.3%
2833.24 Sulphates; alums; peroxosulphates (persulphates): other sulphates: of nickel 3% Free Free Free 5% 3.9%
3815.11 Reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, not elsewhere specified or included: supported catalysts: with nickel or nickel compounds as the active substance Free Free Free Free 6.5% 2.2%
7202.60 Ferro-alloys: ferro-nickel 6.5% Free Free Free Free 3.3%
7204.21 Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel: waste and scrap of alloy steel: of stainless steel Free Free Free Free Free Free
75.01 Nickel mattes, nickel oxide sinters and other intermediate products of nickel metallurgy Free Free Free Free Free Free-3%
7502.10 Unwrought nickel: nickel, not alloyed Free Free Free Free Free 44 yen/kg
7502.20 Unwrought nickel: nickel alloys Free Free Free Free Free Free-3%
75.03 Nickel waste and scrap Free Free Free Free Free Free
75.04 Nickel powders and flakes Free Free Free Free Free Free-3%
7505.11 Nickel bars, rods, profiles and wire: bars, rods and profiles: of nickel, not alloyed Free Free Free Free Free 3%
7505.12 Nickel bars, rods, profiles and wire: bars, rods and profiles: of nickel alloys Free Free Free Free 2.9% 3%
7505.21 Nickel bars, rods, profiles and wire: wire: of nickel, not alloyed Free Free Free Free Free 3%
7505.22 Nickel bars, rods, profiles and wire: wire: of nickel alloys Free Free Free Free 2.9% 3%
75.06 Nickel plates, sheets, strip and foil Free Free Free Free Free-3.3% Free-3%
75.07 Nickel tubes, pipes, and tube or pipe fittings (e.g., for couplings, elbows, sleeves) Free Free Free Free Free-2.5% Free-3%
75.08 Other articles of nickel  Free-3% Free Free Free Free 3%

Sources: Canadian Customs Tariff, effective January 2010, Canada Border Services Agency; Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 2010; Official Journal of the European Union (Tariff Information), October 31, 2009 edition; Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, 2010.
GPT General Preferential Tariff; MFN Most Favoured Nation; WTO World Trade Organization.
(1) The customs duties applicable to imported goods originating in countries that are Contracting Parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or with which the European Community has concluded agreements containing the most-favoured nation tariff clause shall be the conventional duties shown in column 3 of the Schedule of Duties. (2) WTO rate is shown; lower tariff rates may apply circumstantially.

TABLE 1. CANADA, NICKEL PRODUCTION BY PROVINCE, 2007-09
  2007 2008 2009 (p)
(tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000)
MINE OUTPUT
Nickel content of concentrates produced (1) 254 915 . . 259 651 . . 136 339 . .
SHIPMENTS
Recoverable content of nickel in concentrates shipped from Canadian mines
Newfoundland and Labrador 71 850 2 878 032 79 807 1 851 920 28 023 476 585
Quebec 25 277 1 012 501 21 707 503 706 28 120 478 239
Ontario 113 795 4 558 171 113 848 2 641 850 44 253 752 615
Manitoba 33 617 1 346 546 30 835 715 526 31 235 531 205
Total 244 539 9 795 249 246 197 5 713 003 131 631 2 238 644
Finished nickel output = refined nickel in various shapes in Class I, plus Class II nickel (as defined by the International Nickel Study Group), which includes nickel oxide sinter  153 647 . . 167 732 . . 113 067 . .

Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
. . Not available; (p) Preliminary.
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

 

TABLE 2. CANADA, NICKEL TRADE, 2007-09
  2007 2008 2009 (p)
(tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000)
EXPORTS
2604.00.40 Nickel ores and concentrates, (nickel content)
China 1 062 14 886 258 3 406 3 48
Finland 8 423 317 224 17 669 308 103 – –
United States – – 18 8 – –
Total 9 485 332 110 17 945 311 517 3 48
2825.40 Nickel oxides and hydroxides (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 295 3 786 196 2 965 141 1 463
China 1 16 – – 7 80
Brazil 1 16 2 26 7 72
South Africa – – . . . 2 3 34
Other countries 456 4 905 44 482 – –
Total 753 8 723 242 3 475 158 1 649
2827.35 Nickel chlorides (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States – – 2 5 4 8
Other countries . . . . . . . . . . . . – –
Total . . . . . . 2 5 4 8
2833.24 Nickel sulphates (weight of material, not nickel content)
Brazil – – – – 182 2 226
United States 11 40 – – 12 66
Finland 109 3 274 162 1 690 – –
Other countries 7 47 5 118 – –
Total 127 3 361 167 1 808 194 2 292
3815.11 Catalysts and other reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations with nickel or nickel compounds as the substance (weight of material, not nickel content)
India – – – –   353  4 773
South Korea – – – – 8 80
United States 26 42 22 21 111 51
Other countries . . . 4 . . . 1 1 16
Total 26 46 22 22 473 4 920
7202.60 Ferronickel (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States – – – – 182 916
7204.21 Stainless steel waste and scrap (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 81 898 128 015 93 737 145 434 91 180 103 446
China 49 907 67 641 12 866 32 267 14 714 25 261
Netherlands 13 747 48 249 10 254 27 500 8 823 15 121
India 53 489 20 311 2 987 7 679 3 750 4 999
South Korea 7 635 19 568 61 712 5 089 804 1 453
Italy 9 270 34 504 5 556 12 897 844 1 365
Taiwan 269 098 2 345 904 2 333 552 1 220
Pakistan 47 166 140 178 1 922 1 103
Other countries 84 759 23 491 2 903 8 186 1 689 2 395
Total 569 850 344 290 191 059 241 563 124 278 156 363
7501.10 Nickel mattes (nickel content)
Norway 73 922 3 020 815 76 018 2 051 506 68 972 1 217 068
Japan – – 890 10 585 – –
Total 73 922 3 020 815 76 908 2 062 091 68 972 1 217 068
7501.20 Nickel oxide sinters and other intermediate products of nickel metallurgy (weight of material, not nickel content)
United Kingdom 41 682 1 392 887 45 011 784 681 11 869 151 470
China 3 859 8 487 11 720 174 770 5 546 71 292
South Korea 4 736 169 311 12 164 220 988 3 236 47 555
Taiwan 3 178 80 345 5 927 126 546 1 236 17 946
Other countries 670 19 887 628 12 758 126 106
Total 54 125 1 670 917 75 450 1 319 743 22 013 288 369
7502.10 Nickel unwrought, not alloyed (nickel content)
China 26 303 1 026 586 29 844 703 916 34 901 599 413
United States 51 337 2 114 097 56 401 1 418 594 35 488 533 897
Netherlands 11 793 452 581 12 830 267 466 10 336 165 112
Hong Kong 8 229 333 547 10 082 241 290 10 138 165 026
Taiwan 5 592 253 323 4 209 105 869 2 943 47 919
South Korea 1 902 76 957 1 712 39 357 2 081 32 639
India 1 251 47 181 1 386 30 118 2 087 31 273
Japan 2 496 106 112 2 844 64 138 1 450 23 751
Turkey 839 36 974 1 029 23 032 924 17 844
Spain 1 205 49 411 1 075 26 495 669 11 630
Australia 975 39 758 1 113 25 720 799 11 395
Italy 2 403 101 010 1 085 25 446 769 11 269
Belgium 4 085 184 362 3 055 62 473 505 7 717
Singapore 1 523 60 542 2 341 57 520 510 7 388
Iran 164 5 409 364 9 235 357 6 421
Pakistan 54 1 524 229 4 636 310 4 857
Thailand 310 14 709 170 3 965 273 4 642
Indonesia 280 13 212 168 3 988 203 3 570
South Africa 1 144 62 753 – – 200 2 530
United Arab Emirates 128 3 985 251 5 435 118 1 757
Vietnam 172 6 729 109 3 098 81 1 734
Other countries 5 789 202 598 692 15 838 239 3 631
Total 127 974 5 193 360 130 989 3 137 629 105 381 1 695 415
7502.20 Nickel unwrought, alloyed (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 46 2 272 161 2 589 . . . 36
Hong Kong – – . . . 6 1 22
Poland 1 12 . . . 9 1 21
South Africa – – . . . 2 . . . 12
Other countries 1 86 . . . 4 – –
Total 48 2 370 161 2 610 2 91
7503.00 Nickel waste and scrap (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 2 839 33 828 4 812 59 716 3 952 37 947
Norway 189 4 040 62 1 320 162 1 371
Japan – – 58 745 81 1 184
Netherlands 1 102 16 705 1 383 6 241 296 853
Other countries 427 7 862 51 1 120 105 366
Total 4 557 62 435 6 366 69 142 4 596 41 721
7504.00 Nickel powders and flakes alloyed and unalloyed (weight of material not nickel content)
United States 3 587 148 524 3 876 123 070 2 275 50 543
Japan 5 767 252 905 6 165 176 604 1 685 31 500
China 2 198 94 142 2 511 68 223 1 510 26 793
Belgium 1 155 47 836 1 093 25 142 769 12 752
South Korea 762 33 658 634 18 611 610 11 336
Taiwan 111 4 832 117 3 632 280 4 881
Germany 138 7 690 98 4 417 419 4 707
Brazil 255 13 705 472 10 809 105 2 312
Singapore 139 3 382 180 5 331 82 1 183
Thailand 45 1 137 96 2 985 32 648
New Caledonia – – 36 631 36 621
Sweden 3 187 9 483 11 567
Other countries 135 6 328 227 8 183 50 1 565
Total 14 295 614 326 15 514 448 121 7 864 149 408
7505.11 Bars, rods and profiles of nickel, not alloyed (nickel content)
United Arab Emirates – – – – . . . 3
China – – – – . . . . . .
United States – – . . . 8 – –
Total – – . . . 8 . . . 3
7505.12 Bars, rods and profiles of nickel alloy (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 10 155 80 672 20 174
Poland . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 22
Germany – – – – . . . 4
Other countries 5 147 5 190 . . . . . .
Total 15 304 85 865 20 200
7505.21 Nickel wire, not alloyed (weight of nickel wire plus coating if any, not nickel content)
Chile – – . . .   12 . . .   6
Belgium . . . . . . – – – –
United States 12 555 6 348 – –
Total 12 555 6 360 . . . 6
7505.22 Wire, nickel alloy (weight of alloy plus coating, if any, not nickel content)
United States 27 1 188 37 1 403 9 471
China – – – – 1 83
Other countries 2 91 56 2 738 . . . 12
Total 29 1 279 93 4 141 10 566
7506.00 Nickel plates, sheets, strip and foil
United States 1 49 1 78 32 376
Taiwan – – – – 1 38
Philippines 4 125 1 15 1 11
Other countries 10 293 1 85 1 10
Total 15 467 3 178 35 435
  (n.a.) ($000) (n.a.) ($000) (n.a.) ($000)
7507.11 to
7507.20		 Tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings, alloyed and unalloyed (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States . . 9 128 . . 16 421 . . 10 748
Singapore – – . . 173 . . 563
Kuwait – – . . 58 . . 337
United Arab Emirates . . 282 . . 939 . . 304
United Kingdom . . 250 . . 322 . . 256
France . . . . . . . 1 . . 207
Israel . . 34 . . 49 . . 186
China . . 44 . . 533 . . 156
South Korea . . 1 457 . . 302 . . 114
Japan . . 26 . . 14 . . 112
Netherlands . . 233 . . 460 . . 104
Other countries . . 4 632 . . 1 994 . . 189
Total . . 16 086 . . 21 266 . . 13 276
7508.00 Other articles of nickel (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States . . 15 859 . . 18 053 . . 16 403
France . . 1 812 . . 2 271 . . 3 594
United Kingdom . . 174 . . 523 . . 668
Poland . . 79 . . 227 . . 600
Germany . . 247 . . 367 . . 436
Brazil . . 1 982 . . 997 . . 343
Sweden . . 22 . . 62 . . 160
Other countries . . 1 274 . . 3 574 . . 439
Total . . 21 449 . . 26 074 . . 22 643
Total exports . . 11 292 893 . . 7 650 618 . . 3 595 397
  (tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000)
IMPORTS
2604.00.00.20 Nickel ores and concentrates (nickel content)
Australia 1 641 78 768 1 560 35 431 12 456 201 771
South Africa 3 243 140 468 . . . . . . 488 5 715
United States (1) – – 14 268 1 051 2 001
Other countries 159 4 640 31 15 7 34
Total 5 043 223 876 1 605 35 714 14 002 209 521
2620.99.00.90 Ash and residues: other (containing mainly nickel)
United States 117 097 3 737 310 482 11 621 204 646 11 533
South Africa 29 971 13 190 5 078 2 327 17 794 8 173
Qatar – – – – 1 282 6 368
Norway 15 502 5 044 – – 9 763 3 748
Australia 741 4 074 – – 27 2 846
Japan 54 414 6 449 8 949 4 288 21 847 2 240
Germany 1 398 3 824 356 2 957 24 270 975
Suriname 30 697 1 867 218 674 3 152 861
France 15 283 1 144 15 201 846 100 574
Other countries 21 167 2 334 2 159 324 260 164
Total 286 270 41 663 342 443 23 037 283 141 37 482
2825.40 Nickel oxides and hydroxides (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 1 964 8 515 1 512 4 928 976 4 498
South Korea – – . . . . . . 17 199
Japan – – 20 223 19 145
Other countries 76 666 26 348 . . . 5
Total 2 040 9 181 1 558 5 499 1 012 4 847
2827.35 Nickel chlorides (weight of material, not nickel content)
France 87 632 24 183 40 218
Germany . . . . . . 11 79 23 159
Norway 6 191 7 600 10 71
United States 56 346 17 104 8 52
Other countries 37 231 11 73 1 7
Total 186 1 400 70 1 039 82 507
2833.24 Nickel sulphates (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 3 940 13 559 4 106 10 739 1 771 4 575
Japan . . . . . . – – 175 1 108
China 217 2 101 182 1 162 143 803
Finland 108 955 91 641 159 747
Belgium 228 1 855 176 1 222 19 96
Other countries 11 101 3 27 7 23
Total 4 504 18 571 4 558 13 791 2 274 7 352
3815.11 Catalysts and other reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations with nickel or nickel compounds as the substance (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 845 20 783 262 4 596 622 14 834
Denmark 125 2 617 62 1 354 386 7 696
South Africa – – – – 45 815
Belgium . . . 2 – – 43 776
India 70 922 75 1 149 39 577
Germany 99 1 874 153 3 187 35 511
Other countries 234 2 815 258 6 856 26 356
Total 1 373 29 013 810 17 142 1 196 25 565
7202.60 Ferronickel (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 2 27 . . . 5 . . . 3
Canada 4 104 – – – –
China . . . 2 . . . 4 – –
South Africa 1 13 – – – –
Total 7 146 . . . 9 . . . 3
7204.21 Stainless steel waste and scrap (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 28 699 58 541 22 671 50 654 223 146 25 934
Norway . . . . . – – 512 628
South Africa – – 7 16 15 33
Other countries 6 15 7 17 42 14
Total 28 705 58 556 22 685 50 687 223 715 26 609
7501.10 Nickel mattes (nickel content)
Indonesia – – – – 318 3 619
Switzerland – – – – 3 145
Other countries 1 221 5 125 1 22 . . . 7
Total 1 221 5 125 1 22 321 3 771
7501.20 Nickel oxide sinters and other intermediate products of nickel metallurgy (weight of material, not nickel content)
Botswana 15 305 68 333 2 155 4 425 15 947 27 194
Germany 33 680 91 638 22 341 66 807 8 975 15 188
United States 12 000 18 377 9 278 14 259 2 349 3 594
Other countries 16 58 154 513 66 91
Total 61 001 178 406 33 928 86 004 27 337 46 067
7502.10 Nickel unwrought, not alloyed (nickel content)
Canada 16 652 6 181 178 3 078
Norway 489 20 554 106 2 420 144 2 820
Brazil – – 12 318 63 1 198
Australia – – 42 852 60 1 155
United Kingdom 86 3 816 767 20 017 37 558
Russia 40 1 167 233 5 898 26 491
Finland 498 19 484 140 3 737 18 355
Other countries 81 3 018 65 1 574 32 549
Total 1 210 48 691 1 371 34 997 558 10 204
7502.20 Nickel unwrought, alloyed (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 302 6 039 159 2 996 35 720
Canada 64 2 931 4 130 25 421
Russia – – – – 21 404
United Kingdom 55 1 722 124 3 878 10 250
Belgium – – – – 5 108
Other countries 382 1 740 308 1 454 25 189
Total 803 12 432 595 8 458 121 2 092
7503.00 Nickel waste and scrap (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 19 780 95 930 16 330 69 231 5 439 17 324
Norway 55 1 048 224 1 590 505 1 374
Zimbabwe 62 1 644 29 245 214 599
United Kingdom 67 369 19 106 99 463
Belgium – – – – 33 202
Netherlands 26 255 39 465 39 101
Other countries 175 1 093 545 2 512 63 165
Total 20 165 100 339 17 186 74 149 6 392 20 228
7504.00 Nickel powders and flakes, alloyed and
unalloyed (weight of material, not nickel content)
Australia 1 003 40 006 674 16 216 722 13 155
United States 136 5 353 105 4 766 129 5 338
United Kingdom 11 475 2 185 174 3 019
Russia 5 271 6 148 36 2 099
Belgium 17 1 095 27 1 329 26 943
Ireland 4 207 8 347 15 505
Other countries 40 2 569 33 1 234 22 546
Total 1 216 49 976 855 24 225 1 124 25 605
7505.11 Bars, rods and profiles of nickel, not alloyed (nickel content)
United States 12 346 57 1 637 23 856
United Kingdom 16 463 3 176 3 145
Other countries . . . 18 . . . 8 . . . 19
Total 28 827 60 1 821 26 1 020
7505.12 Bars, rods and profiles of nickel alloy (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 825 34 742 636 31 293 505 22 671
Germany 57 1 738 46 1 931 33 1 159
United Kingdom 7 356 7 342 7 299
Japan 9 163 5 109 4 118
Austria 1 23 2 104 7 109
Other countries 29 920 27 973 6 245
Total 928 37 942 723 34 752 562 24 601
7505.21 Nickel wire, not alloyed (weight of nickel wire plus coating, if any, not nickel content)
Germany 1 75 31 1 072 11 296
United States 39 756 10 501 5 266
France . . . . . . – – 9 264
Austria 2 111 2 63 5 114
Other countries . . . 4 . . . 6 2 21
Total 42 946 43 1 642 32 961
7505.22 Wire, nickel alloy (weight of alloy plus coating, if any, not nickel content)
United States 192 8 243 207 9 738 186 7 408
Germany 57 2 305 152 4 220 68 2 196
Sweden 57 2 064 96 3 036 53 1 489
China 1 55 9 347 8 282
United Kingdom 10 887 6 753 4 267
France 20 1 023 30 1 433 5 153
Other countries 48 1 709 25 729 2 42
Total 385 16 286 525 20 256 326 11 837
7506.00 Nickel plates, sheets, strip and foil
United States 610 28 555 702 33 414 551 19 957
Germany 858 39 689 556 18 675 449 10 793
Sweden 1 137 2 114 2 100
Other countries 7 446 8 574 6 189
Total 1 476 68 827 1 268 52 777 1 008 31 039
7507.00 Tubes, pipes, and tube or pipe fittings alloyed and unalloyed (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 603 23 218 892 38 230 460 18 762
Sweden 102 5 930 282 13 651 217 4 323
United Kingdom 2 106 5 420 5 369
Japan 8 474 670 25 201 7 355
Norway 20 533 220 5 921 20 277
Germany 2 104 7 274 4 230
France 3 92 1 29 2 113
Italy 5 424 9 462 2 112
Spain 2 128 2 158 2 100
Other countries 154 13 535 14 360 5 132
Total 901 44 544 2 102 84 706 724 24 773
7508.00 Other articles of nickel (weight of material, not nickel content)
United States 266 17 370 170 19 964 120 14 007
Germany 4 156 1 87 25 4 035
France 9 482 2 753 5 1 609
United Kingdom 12 652 12 2 249 15 1 422
Switzerland 29 388 9 480 11 558
China 80 671 39 636 31 543
Canada 3 288 4 242 6 520
Other countries 25 868 16 820 15 1 084
Total 428 20 875 253 25 231 228 23 778
Total imports 417 932 967 622 432 639 595 958 564 181 537 862

Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
– Nil; . . Not available; . . . Amount too small to be expressed; n.a. Not applicable.
(1) The United States does not produce nickel concentrates, so reported imports may come from other countries or be misclassified.
Notes: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. The value of nickel in ash and residue from Cuba is not included in the total value.

TABLE 3. CANADA, HISTORICAL NICKEL PRODUCTION AND USE, 1990-2009
  Production (1)
(Mine Output)		 Use (2)
(tonnes)
1990 196 225 7 454
1991 192 259 8 486
1992 186 384 10 676
1993 188 080 10 026
1994 149 886 12 335
1995 181 820 12 469
1996 192 649 14 194
1997 190 529 10 689
1998 208 302 12 053
1999 186 236 14 447
2000 190 793 14 861
2001 194 058 10 057
2002 189 297 10 618
2003 163 244 7 906
2004 186 694 7 441
2005 199 932 8 701
2006 232 948 7 480
2007 254 915 7 195
2008 259 651 . .
2009 (p) 136 339 . .

Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.
. . Not available; (p) Preliminary.
(1) Refined nickel and nickel in oxides and salts produced, plus recoverable nickel in matte and concentrates exported. Data are for nickel contained in concentrates produced. (2) Use of metallic nickel, all forms (refined metal, nickel in ferronickel oxides and salts, and other forms of nickel, including nickel in purchased scrap) as reported by users on the Natural Resources Canada survey "Nickel Use."
Note: The Nickel Use survey is currently suspended.