Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of nickel during 2018.

1. Indonesia: US$628 million (21.5% of total nickel exports)
2. Philippines: $458.2 million (15.7%)
3. New Caledonia: $432.8 million (14.8%)
4. Zimbabwe: $394.1 million (13.5%)
5. United States: $222 million (7.6%)
6. Finland: $216.5 million (7.4%)
7. Australia: $193.7 million (6.6%)
8. Canada: $135 million (4.6%)
9. Belgium: $85.1 million (2.9%)
10. Guatemala: $76.7 million (2.6%)
11. Russia: $38.2 million (1.3%)
12. Ivory Coast: $15.3 million (0.5%)
13. Germany: $10 million (0.3%)
14. Albania: $6.6 million (0.2%)
15. Singapore: $5.7 million (0.2%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 99.8% of all nickel exports in 2017 by value.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing nickel exporters since 2014 were: Russia (up 19,372%), Belgium (up 15,174%), Indonesia (up 631%) and Singapore (up 476%).

Four countries posted declines in their exported nickel sales were namely: Philippines (down -73.3%), Australia (down -71.7%), Guatemala (down -29.8%) and Canada (down -22.7%).

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for nickel during 2018. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported nickel and its import purchases for that same commodity.

1. Indonesia: US$628 million (net export surplus up 631% since 2014)
2. Philippines: $457.6 million (down -73.4%)
3. New Caledonia: $432.8 million (up 63.5%)
4. Zimbabwe: $394.1 million (up 11.2%)
5. United States: $221.8 million (up 324.1%)
6. Australia: $193.7 million (down -71.7%)
7. Guatemala: $76.7 million (down -29.8%)
8. Russia: $38.2 million (reversing a -$54.6 million deficit)
9. Finland: $31.8 million (reversing a -$381 million deficit)
10. Ivory Coast: $15.3 million (no 2014 data)
11. Albania: $6.6 million (up 1.6%)
12. Singapore: $5.6 million (up 509%)
13. Germany: $4.7 million (up 124.7%)
14. Belgium: $3.6 million (reversing a -$162,000 deficit)
15. Norway: $1.2 million (down -57.7%)

Eclipsing the Philippines in 2018, Indonesia had the highest surplus in the international trade of nickel. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms the strong Indonesian competitive advantage for this specific product category.

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for nickel during 2018. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported nickel purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

1. China: -US$3 billion (net export deficit down -35% since 2014)
2. South Korea: -$234.6 million (up 67%)
3. Japan: -$215 million (down -42.4%)
4. North Macedonia: -$72.2 million (down -33.4%)
5. Ukraine: -$69.3 million (down -9.5%)
6. Canada: -$55.1 million (reversing a $77.4 million surplus)
7. Italy: -$1.3 million (reversing a $514,000 surplus)
8. Romania: -$450,000 (up 782.4%)
9. Greece: -$388,000 (reversing a $3,000 surplus)
10. Brazil: -$381,000 (reversing a $140.3 million surplus)
11. Panama: -$264,000 (no 2014 data)
12. Tunisia: -$123,000 (no 2014 data)
13. Malaysia: -$91,000 (reversing a $501,000 surplus)
14. Portugal: -$76,000 (reversing a $1,000 surplus)
15. Vietnam: -$45,000 (reversing an $86.4 million surplus)

China incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of nickel. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights China’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for nickel-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful demand.

Nickel Producing Companies

Below are 10 of the largest nickel producers that represent established players engaged in the international trade of nickel. Their home country for each company’s headquarters is shown within parenthesis.

• Norilsk Nickel (Russia)
• Vale (Brazil)
• BHP Billiton (Australia)
• Jinchuan Group (China)
• Glencore (Switzerland)
• Sherritt International (Canada)
• Eramet (France)
• Sumitomo Metal Mining (Japan)
• Anglo American (UK/South Africa)
• Minara Resources (Australia)

According to global trading platform Alibaba, the following suppliers are also examples of nickel ore exporters. The home-country location for each business is shown within parentheses:

• Philminerals Inc (Philippines)
• Zeil Global Enterprises (United States)
• Metores Oy (Finland)
• Cornerstone (Indonesia)
• Osho Metal Ve Madencilik (Turkey)
• FENI Industries (Macedonia)