Nickel

Previous Years’ Reviews

Nickel - 2010 Annual Review and Outlook

  • Highlights
    • World primary nickel production of refined and other forms of finished nickel in 2010 was estimated by the International Nickel Study Group (INSG) at 1.45 million tonnes (Mt), compared to primary nickel usage of 1.47 Mt.
    • Canada is an important producer and exporter of nickel and nickel products. In 2010, Canada produced 7.2% of the world’s total supply of refined nickel. Its refined nickel products are produced at three refineries: Vale Inc.’s Sudbury, Ontario, and Thompson, Manitoba, refineries; and Sheritt International Corporation’s Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, refinery.
    • Vale’s Sudbury operations ratified a five-year collective agreement on July 8, 2010, marking the end of a strike that began on July 13, 2009. The 18-month strike at Vale’s mine operations in Newfoundland and Labrador began on August 1, 2009, and concluded with the ratification of a new collective agreement on January 31, 2011. 
    • Vale announced the phasing-out of its smelting and refining operations in Thompson, Manitoba, by 2015 due to insufficient mineral reserves and compliance costs related to new federal sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission standards coming into effect in 2015. 
      • The 2011 price of nickel is expected to fluctuate within a narrow price range, showing greater strength in the early months of the year, which would be consistent with a traditional period of strong stainless steel demand, followed by weakening towards the latter months. There is strong agreement that nickel prices will decline some in the 2012/13 timeframe as several of the major laterite deposits are scheduled to begin production.
  • Canadian Production
  • World Production
  • Markets and Prices
  • Trade
  • Outlook

Nickel - Other Information

  • Nickel Uses

Maps/Graphs

  • Figure 1. London Metal Exchange Nickel Prices, 2010
  • Figure 2. London Metal Exchange Nickel Inventory, 2010
  • Figure 3. Nickel Uses, 2010

Statistical Tables

  • Tariffs
  • Table 1. Canada, Nickel Production by Province, 2008-10
  • Table 2. Canada, Nickel Trade, 2008-10
  • Table 3. Canada, Historical Nickel Production and Use, 1990-2010

To request a PDF copy of the complete article, please contact us.