- China remains largest buyer of Philippine ore
- Indonesia’s nickel processing sector sustains demand
SteelDaily: The Philippines’ nickel ore exports rose sharply in the first four months of 2026, supported by robust demand from China’s stainless steel and nickel pig iron (NPI) sectors, along with sustained feedstock requirements from Indonesia’s nickel processing industry.
According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country exported 17.53 million wet metric tonnes (wmt) of nickel ore during January-April 2026, up 70% y-o-y. China remained the largest destination, importing 11.8 million wmt and accounting for nearly 67% of total shipments, while exports to Indonesia reached 5.73 million wmt.
April exports alone stood at 8.34 million wmt, increasing by 52% m-o-m and 54% y-o-y. Shipments to China reached 6.04 million wmt, while exports to Indonesia totalled 2.3 million wmt.
Indonesia’s processing sector supports ore demand
Market participants attributed the export growth to continued demand from Indonesia’s nickel smelters and China’s stainless steel and NPI production sectors. Tight ore availability and elevated nickel prices have encouraged strong procurement activity across the region.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s nickel wet-processing segment showed mixed performance. Across nine HPAL (High-Pressure Laminate) projects, nickel metal output in wet intermediates reached 28,600 t in May, up 5.2% m-o-m but down 27.3% y-o-y. Cumulative production during January-May stood at 169,600 t, down 8.1% from the corresponding period last year.
Production shifts reshape nickel supply chain
Indonesia’s RKEF (Rotary Kiln-Electric Furnace) producers are gradually adjusting production strategies. Some high-grade NPI capacity is expected to shift toward nickel matte production from June onwards, reducing monthly high-grade NPI output by around 2,600 t (nickel content basis) while increasing nickel matte availability.
Separately, Zimbabwe recently classified nickel, lithium, cobalt, graphite, and other minerals as strategic resources, introducing tighter ownership and export regulations. Industry participants noted that the move could create additional uncertainty across the global nickel supply chain in the coming months.
Outlook
Strong demand from China and Indonesia is expected to keep Philippine nickel ore exports elevated in the near term. However, evolving production strategies in Indonesia and tightening resource policies in key mining jurisdictions could continue reshaping global nickel trade flows and supply dynamics.
Note: This article is published as part of a content exchange agreement between SteelDaily and BigMint.
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