Its July-September production fell by 77pc from a year earlier to 30,000t.

US plate maker Nucor kept its plate prices for December flat.

Orion Minerals partners up at Okiep

Looking ahead, we believe economic growth will be a crucial priority for China, as the country has emphasized the importance of economic development, focusing on high-quality, balanced and inclusive growth.

Freight volume has seen stable monthly growth, with October hitting a high of 1.35 million tons, it said. Trade along the railway covers countries such as Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore.

At present, of the 17,244 tonnes of on-warrant nickel in LME warehouses in Rotterdam, briquette accounts for more than 92%.

A high backwardation continued to dampen import appetite, leading to thin liquidity, although offers were quoted higher.

Fastmarkets sources continued to insist that prices were in parity, as rare as the phenomenon is.