This will lead to a lower annual price of US$23,615/t in 2023, down from the previous forecast of US$25,875/t. The finished nickel market is expected to remain in surplus, with 215kt of oversupply from expanding Indonesian operations.

LME Nickel market confidence was dealt another blow in March, when it was discovered that 54t of nickel deliveries from Access World Rotterdam, an LME approved warehouse, were in fact bags of stone. The delivery, totalling nine warrants, is worth an estimated US$1.3m. All remaining LME warehouses were instructed to inspect and weigh their metal, no further anomalies have been found. The incident is believed to be an isolated case but the possibility of false deliveries under LME’s watch has led to further market unease.

The LME’s precise grade requirement of class 1 nickel deliveries continue to disrupt the relationship between prices and production, as the majority of global supply is dominated by lower-grade, or class 2 products. In light of this, the exchange has proposed a series of changes to revive its nickel contracts and reclaim its role as the benchmark price setter of the metal.

Changes that will immediately be implemented include a hard 15% daily price limit, which will be permanently imposed on all metals. The waiting time for class 1 nickel brand applications has been shortened from nine to three months. Further assessment studies and frameworks will be conducted to strengthen risk controls. Measures will also be taken to increase liquidity on its electronic trading platform.

The exchange is also considering the possibility of accepting class 1 coarse powder deliveries to capture the battery sector within the year, and to review its membership requirement of LME Clear to include stronger credit monitoring. A class 2 contracts trading platform may be introduced alongside LME Nickel. Additionally, the LME may partner with its affiliate Qianhai Mercantile Exchange (QME), to open a trading platform for nickel sulphate and matte.

The EU has added battery-grade nickel as a strategic raw material for the energy transition, in line with its Critical Raw Materials Act. This means that the bloc will prioritise the development of nickel mining and processing projects by expediting the permitting and funding stages. Difficulties associated with sourcing the metal were also identified, including the privatisation of available supply contracts and a strong reliance on imports. Approximately 29% of the EU’s finished nickel is sourced from Russia, followed by Finland (18%), Norway (11%) and Canada (7%).

In Canda, Flying Nickel Mining has signed an Impact and Benefit Agreement with Norway House Cree Nation (NHCN) for the development of the Minago Project. NHCN will receive employment, contract opportunities, and a percentage of revenues received. A joint venture may also be established for the sale of dolomitic limestone and granitic rock, waste materials that are often used in the production of cement and construction.