Nickel exports from all countries totaled US$4 billion worth of international nickel sales for 2025.

Globally exported nickel decreased by -23.3% for all shippers of nickel over the 5-year period starting from $5.22 billion in 2021.

Year over year, the value of nickel exported worldwide slowed by an average -1.8% compared to $4.1 billion during 2024.

Resistant to corrosion, nickel is used in stainless steel, magnets, coins, rechargeable batteries as well as plating on plumbing fixtures including faucets and a green tint in glass.

By value, the world’s 5 biggest nickel exporters are the Philippines, New Caledonia, Russia, Zambia and Finland. Collectively, those 5 international suppliers generated about two-thirds (66.5%) of the overall dollar spend on exported nickel ores or concentrates during 2025.

Among continents, nickel suppliers located in Asian countries exported the highest dollar worth of shiny metal during 2025 with shipments valued at $1.56 billion or 38.9% of the worldwide total.

In second place were nickel exporters based in Africa at 16.5%, trailed by suppliers in Oceania’s New Caledonia, Australia and Solomon Islands at another 15.5%.

Smaller percentages came from North America (8.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Latin America (6.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 2604 for nickel ores and concentrates.

Top Nickel Exporters by Country

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of nickel during 2025.

1. Philippines: US$1.5 billion (36.8% of total nickel exports)
2. New Caledonia: $367 million (9.2%)
3. Russia: $287.2 million (7.2%)
4. Zambia: $267 million (6.7%)
5. Finland: $265.7 million (6.6%)
6. Brazil: $237.9 million (5.9%)
7. Namibia: $194.2 million (4.9%)
8. Australia: $193.5 million (4.8%)
9. United States: $180 million (4.5%)
10. Canada: $153.2 million (3.8%)
11. Zimbabwe: $118.4 million (3%)
12. Vietnam: $76.5 million (1.9%)
13. Solomon Islands: $59.3 million (1.5%)
14. Ivory Coast: $58.6 million (1.5%)
15. Guatemala: $28.1 million (0.70%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99% of globally exported nickel in 2025.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing nickel exporters since 2024 were: Solomon Islands (up 137.5%), Guatemala (up 108%), Australia (up 61.4%) and the Philippines (up 41.1%).

Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their exported nickel sales were led by: Zimbabwe (down -74.9%), Finland (down -35.4%), Zambia (down -17.5%), Russia (down -13.8%) and Namibia (down -6.6%).

Searchable List of Nickel Exporting Countries in 2025

The 46 countries showcased in the automated database below sold 100% of globally exported nickel ores or concentrates during 2025.

Rank	Exporter	Nickel Exports	2024-5
1	Philippines	$1,474,534,000	+41.1%
2	New Caledonia	$366,965,000	+7.7%
3	Russia	$287,214,000	-13.8%
4	Zambia	$267,044,000	-17.5%
5	Finland	$265,687,000	-35.4%
6	Brazil	$237,879,000	+2.7%
7	Namibia	$194,152,000	-6.6%
8	Australia	$193,545,000	+61.4%
9	United States	$180,048,000	+30.2%
10	Canada	$153,179,000	-1.3%
11	Zimbabwe	$118,386,000	-74.9%
12	Vietnam	$76,452,000	+19.9%
13	Solomon Islands	$59,332,000	+137.5%
14	Ivory Coast	$58,594,000	+0.7%
15	Guatemala	$28,092,000	+108%
16	Tanzania	$18,369,000	+20.5%
17	Belgium	$8,168,000	-72.9%
18	Malaysia	$3,686,000	-85.5%
19	South Africa	$3,193,000	+600.2%
20	Norway	$1,520,000	+8%
21	France	$888,000	-19.1%
22	Germany	$737,000	+42.8%
23	Netherlands	$672,000	-91.1%
24	Kazakhstan	$570,000	+955.6%
25	mainland China	$518,000	+3353%
26	Singapore	$441,000	+168.9%
27	Thailand	$429,000	+44%
28	Poland	$383,000	0%
29	Slovakia	$217,000	-70.3%
30	South Korea	$188,000	-41.1%
31	Uzbekistan	$107,000	0%
32	United Kingdom	$100,000	+150%
33	Qatar	$94,000	0%
34	Ethiopia	$89,000	0%
35	India	$60,000	+66.7%
36	Pakistan	$21,000	0%
37	Türkiye	$17,000	-68.5%
38	Japan	$11,000	-59.3%
39	Papua New Guinea	$8,000	0%
40	Taiwan	$7,000	-100%
41	Italy	$3,000	-92.7%
42	Albania	$2,000	0%
43	Oman	$1,000	0%
44	Portugal	$1,000	0%
45	Sweden	$1,000	0%
46	Switzerland	$1,000	0%

You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of the columns.

An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that 2024 data was unavailable.

Average Unit Prices for Nickel Exports

The world’s average price per ton of exported nickel was $63 in 2025 same as in 2021. The price in 2025 fell -19.2% compared to $78 per ton during 2024.

Focusing on the 15 main countries that export nickel based on total sales revenues, the costliest suppliers are Canada, Finland and the United States of America.

The major nickel suppliers listed below are sorted in descending order based on the highest to lowest nickel sales on international markets during 2025.

1. Philippines: US$27 per ton of nickel (up 17.4% from 2024)
2. New Caledonia: $80 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
3. Russia: $1,214 per ton (down -14%)
4. Zambia: $1,805 per ton (down -10.6%)
5. Finland: $4,799 per ton (down -28.7%)
6. Brazil: $1,807 per ton (down -3.1%)
7. Namibia: $1,492 per ton (down -7.9%)
8. Australia: $1,593 per ton (down -12.1%)
9. United States: $7,478 per ton (up 81.7%)
10. Canada: $15,543 per ton (up 11.2%)
11. Zimbabwe: $2,342 per ton (down -15.7%)
12. Vietnam: $1,246 per ton (down -46.8%)
13. Solomon Islands: $71 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
14. Ivory Coast: $52 per ton (up 23.8%)
15. Guatemala: $29 per ton (up 3.6%)
16. Tanzania: $798 per ton (down -17.9%)

Four major suppliers from which to buy the least expensive nickel on international markets are the Philippines, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.

Leading countries that increased the average prices from 2024 to 2025 by double-digit percentages were the United States of America (up 81.7%), Ivory Coast (up 23.8%), Philippines (up 17.4%) and Canada (up 11.2%).

The strongest decliners in terms of average prices year over year were providers in Vietnam (down -46.8% from 2024), Finland (down -28.7%), Tanzania (down -17.9%), Zimbabwe (down -15.7%) and Russia (down -14%).

Major Exporters by Greatest Volume of Nickel Shipments by Weight

The following ranking reveals which counties exported the biggest volumes of nickel during 2025 in terms of shipment tonnage.

All told, these 15 major suppliers generated 99.92% of the total 63.8 million tons of globally exported nickel in 2025. That quantity rose 14.6% from 2024.

1. Philippines: 55,216,173 tons of nickel (86.5% of world’s total)
2. New Caledonia: 4,601,760 tons (7.2%)
3. Ivory Coast: 1,137,679 tons (1.8%)
4. Guatemala: 979,901 tons (1.5%)
5. Solomon Islands: 837,908 tons (1.3%)
6. Russia: 236,497 tons (0.4%)
7. Zambia: 147,941 tons (0.2%)
8. Brazil: 131,643 tons (0.2%)
9. Namibia: 130,117 tons (0.2%)
10. Australia: 121,535 tons (0.2%)
11. Vietnam: 61,381 tons (0.1%)
12. Finland: 55,358 tons (0.1%)
13. Zimbabwe: 50,558 tons (0.08%)
14. mainland China: 32,133 tons (0.05%)
15. United States: 24,078 tons (0.04%)

Fastest-growing nickel shippers as measured by weight are Vietnam (up 125.4% from 2024), Guatemala (up 104.6%), Australia (up 83.6%) then the Philippines (up 22.8%).

Declining by double-digit percentages compared to 2024 were suppliers in Zimbabwe (down -70.2% in 2024), United States of America (down -28.3%) and Ivory Coast (down -18%).

Countries Generating Greatest Surpluses from Global Nickel Trade

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for nickel during 2025. 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. Philippines: $1.5 billion (up 41.1% since 2024)
2. New Caledonia: $367 million (up 7.7%)
3. Russia: $286.9 million (down -13.9%)
4. Zambia: $267 million (down -17.5%)
5. Brazil: $236.1 million (up 3.1%)
6. Australia: $189.8 million (up 62.7%)
7. United States: $179.1 million (up 30%)
8. Zimbabwe: $118.4 million (down -74.9%)
9. Vietnam: $76.4 million (up 21.4%)
10. Solomon Islands: $59.3 million (up 137.5%)
11. Ivory Coast: $58.6 million (up 0.7%)
12. Guatemala: $28.1 million (up 108%)
13. Tanzania: $18.4 million (up 20.5%)
14. Norway: $1.5 million (up 7.6%)
15. South Africa: $866,000 (reversing a -$1.5 million deficit)

World-leading nickel exporter Philippines generated the highest surplus in the international trade of nickel. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms the strong Filipino competitive advantage for this specific product category.

Countries Incurring Worst Deficits from Global Nickel Trade

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for nickel during 2025. 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. mainland China: -US$3.1 billion (up 13.5% since 2024)
2. Indonesia: -$747.3 million (up 62.4%)
3. South Korea: -$205.3 million (down -1.7%)
4. Canada: -$204.1 million (up 9.1%)
5. Namibia: -$67.1 million (up 105.8%)
6. Finland: -$57.4 million (reversing a $117.5 million surplus)
7. Japan: -$56 million (up 44.9%)
8. Malaysia: -$11.5 million (up 1,127%)
9. Spain: -$6.2 million (up 22.8%)
10. United Arab Emirates: -$3.7 million (reversing a $22,000 surplus)
11. Germany: -$3.2 million (up 3.6%)
12. Sri Lanka: -$764,000 (2024 data unavailable)
13. Portugal: -$707,000 (up 94.2%)
14. Greece: -$438,000 (up 31.1%)
15. Czech Republic: -$437,000 (2024 data unavailable)

The People’s Republic of 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.

Major 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.

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

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.

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

 

See also Iron Ore Exports by Country, Top Stainless Steel Exporters by Country and Copper Ore Exports by Country

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for nickel. Accessed on June 22, 2026

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on June 22, 2026

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on June 22, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 22, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on June 22, 2026

The Balance, The 10 Biggest Nickel Producers of 2013. Accessed on June 22, 2026

Wikipedia, Nickel. Accessed on June 22, 2026