[Ferro-alloys.com]In recent week, both the low grade and high grade nickel ores prices decreased. On Mar.20th, total nickel ores stock was 18.15million tons, down by 550thousand tons than last week, of which Indonesian Ni ore was 4.5million tons while Philippines Ni ore was 13.65million tons.  

In Chinese spot market, medium and high grade nickel ores price declined by RMB30 and RMB10/wet mt respectively while the low grade nickel ores price down by RMB10/wet mt. the specific prices are as follows, Ni1.6%, Ni1.7%, and Ni1.8% in Tianjin Port were quoted at RMB410-420/wet mt, RMB490-510/wet mt, RMB560-580/wet mt respectively, and the transaction price for Ni1.9% and Ni2.0% were RMB620-630/wet mt, RMB680-690/wet mt. nickel ore(Fe50%, water33%), nickel ore(Fe49%, water33%), nickel ore(Fe48%, water33%) was quoted at RMB200-210/wet mt, RMB190-200/wet mt and RMB180-190/wet mt.

In future market, the medium and high grade Ni ores price dropped by USD1-3/wet mt while the low grade down by USD1/wet mt as Ni ore with Ni1.7% and Ni1.8% from Philippine are $58/wet mt FOB and $70/wet mt FOB. FOB prices for nickel ore(Fe50%, water33%), nickel ore(Fe49%, water33%), nickel ore(Fe48%, water33%) was quoted at $16-18/wet mt, $15-17/wet mt, $14-16/wet mt respectively.

It was expected that the nickel ores price might further decrease. One reason was the purchase of FeNi from steel mills was weak; the FeNi price might further go down. Another reason was the total FeNi operating rate in China was low as in Jiangsu and Liaoning areas it was just 35% and 50%; in Inner Mogolia, the recover intent was pretty low for the small furnaces accounted much, which means low cost advantage. Besides, in Shandong province, the strict inspection pushed a wide range of cut-off.

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• [Editor:Juan]