According to the latest data released by the Brazilian Institute of Non-ferrous Metals (ICZ), the country's nickel production amounted to 6,839 mt in April this year, rising strongly by 43.2 percent compared to March and up 32.8 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. In the first four months of the year, the country's nickel production decreased 2.3 percent year on year to 22,247 mt.
In April this year, Brazil exported 3,861 mt of nickel, indicating a month-on-month decrease of 2.3 percent and down six percent year on year. In the January-April period of this year, Brazil's nickel exports rose 8.15 percent compared to the first four months of 2012, totaling 15,589 mt.
Meanwhile, in April of the current year apparent nickel consumption in the Brazilian domestic market including imports amounted to 1,651 mt, falling by 7.6 percent compared to March and down 9.2 percent year on year. In the first four months of the current year, nickel use in the Brazilian market including imports amounted to 6,634 mt, falling by just 0.3 percent compared to January-April 2012.