According to the latest data released by the Brazilian Institute of Non-ferrous Metals (ICZ), the country's nickel production amounted to 6,179 mt in May this year, falling by 9.65 percent compared to April and down 6.9 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. In the first five months of the year, the country's nickel production decreased 3.4 percent year on year to 28,426 mt.
In May this year, Brazil exported 4,074 mt of nickel, indicating a month-on-month increase of 5.5 percent and down 19.1 percent year on year. In the January-May period of this year, Brazil's nickel exports rose 1.1 percent compared to the first five months of 2012, totaling 19,663 mt.
Meanwhile, in May of the current year apparent nickel consumption in the Brazilian domestic market including imports amounted to 1,454 mt, falling by 11.9 percent compared to April and up 1.1 percent year on year. In the first five months of the current year, nickel use in the Brazilian market including imports amounted to 8,088 mt, stable compared to January-May 2012.