Nickel is an essential metal used in a variety of industries, from electronics and automotive production to jewelry manufacturing and beyond. In 2020, the global demand for nickel is expected to reach 2.4 million tons. To keep up with this demand, nickel needs to be frequent mined and exported. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top nickel producing countries in the world and learn a bit more about their production capabilities.
Nickel Mining
Nickel is a metal most commonly used in the production of stainless steel and other alloy metals. With its unique physical and chemical properties, it is one of the most versatile elements on the periodic table. As such, it is no surprise that it is in high demand across industries.
Nickel is mined and sourced from various countries around the world, typically as an ore that is refined into a nickel concentrate. This concentrate is then sold, often to manufacturers of stainless steel, alloys, and other nickel-containing items.
In this article, we will explore the top nickel-producing countries, taking into account both their production levels and their discoveries of new nickel deposits.
Top Five Nickel Producing Countries
In 2019, the top five countries for nickel production were Canada, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Russia and Australia. Here is a closer look at each of them:
- Canada
Canada is the world’s top nickel producer, accounting for nearly 25 percent of the world’s nickel production in 2019. The majority of Canadian nickel comes from Ontario, the leading nickel-producing province. In fact, the vast majority of Canada’s nickel production output comes from the massive Sudbury Basin.
- Indonesia
Indonesia is the second-largest nickel producer in the world, accounting for approximately 17 percent of the world’s production in 2019. The majority of nickel production in Indonesia comes from the island of Sulawesi, with the largest nickel mine located in Pomalaa.
- New Caledonia
New Caledonia is the world’s third-largest nickel-producing country, accounting for over 15 percent of the world’s production in 2019. The primary sources of nickel in New Caledonia are two large mines: the Goro mine located in the South Pacific, and the Thio mine, located near the border with Papua New Guinea.
- Russia
Russia is the fourth-largest nickel producer in the world. Russia produced over 13 percent of the world’s nickel in 2019, much of it from two massive plants: Polar Division and Norilsk Nickel. The Polar Division is located near the town of Kola and Norilsk Nickel is located in the city of Norilsk. Both of these plants process nickel arsenide ores, which are mined in the Kola Peninsula.
- Australia
Finally, Australia is the fifth-largest nickel producer in the world, accounting for just over 6 percent of the world’s production in 2019. Australia’s largest nickel operations are located in the state of Western Australia, with the Nickel West’s Leinster mine, Kambalda mine, and the Mc Finley mine being the main contributors.
Rising Nickel Production Around the World
In recent years, nickel production has been growing steadily in many countries around the world, thanks to the discovery of new deposits of nickel ore. In China, for example, nickel production has grown significantly in the past few years, increasing from 1.2 million tons in 2009 to 6.75 million tons in 2019.
Likewise, the Philippines has seen a huge increase in nickel production in recent years, growing from 0.85 million tons in 2009 to 4.2 million tons in 2019. The growth in the Philippines has been attributed to the development of new nickel projects in the country, including both large and small-scale operations.
As global demand for nickel continues to grow, it is clear that countries that possess large nickel deposits will continue to benefit from the rising demand. The countries listed above are some of the largest nickel producers in the world today and will no doubt continue to remain among the top nickel producers in the coming years.
