The nation’s biggest nickel producers will boost ore purchases from the Philippines and New Caledonia for alternative supply as Indonesia is set to halt raw-mineral exports next year.

 

Top producer Sumitomo Metal Mining Co.’s output would remain unaffected through April as the Tokyo-based smelter was building stockpiles, said Toru Higo, general manager for nickel sales and raw materials.

 

Pacific Metals Co. and Nippon Yakin Kogyo Co. would also seek to replace Indonesian supply, said Pacific Metals spokesman Kosuke Naradate and Nippon Yakin spokesman Yusuke Takahashi.

 

Indonesia, the biggest producer of mined nickel, accounted for 44 percent of Japan’s imports of 4.7 metric tons of nickel ore last year, trade data shows. Lower supplies from the Southeast Asian nation following the restriction, due to take effect after Jan. 12, are poised to boost ore prices and support futures that plunged 17 percent this year on the London Metal Exchange, the worst performing base metal.