According to the latest data released by the Brazilian Institute of Non-ferrous Metals (ICZ), the country's nickel production amounted to 4,867 mt in February this year, faling 15.5 percent compared to January and down 14.1 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. In the first two months of the year, the country's nickel production decreased 4.4 percent year on year to 10,631 mt.
In February this year, Brazil exported 2,971 mt of nickel, indicating a month-on-month decrease of 38.2 percent and down 16.9 percent year on year. In the January-February period of this year, Brazil's nickel exports rose 7.6 percent compared to the first two months of 2011, totaling 7,777 mt.
Meanwhile, in February of the current year apparent nickel consumption in the Brazilian domestic market including imports amounted to 1,616 mt, rising by 2.2 percent compared to January and up 11 percent year on year. In the first two months of the current year, nickel use in the Brazilian market including imports amounted to 3,196 mt, rising one percent compared to January-February 2012.