According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, Japan's nickel ore imports totaled 437,100 metric tons in November this year, rising by 0.5 percent month on month and up 30.7 percent compared to November 2011.
Meanwhile, in the first 11 months of 2012, Japan's nickel ore imports amounted to 4.25 million metric tons, increasing by 30 percent year on year. The value of these imports came to RMB 25 billion ($290 million), falling by 2.25 percent compared to the January-November period of 2011.
In November of the current year, Japan's nickel ore imports from Indonesia accounted for 50.65 percent of total Japanese nickel ore imports, up by 81 percent compared to the previous month to 221,390 metric tons, while New Caledonia exported 112,937 mt of nickel ore to Japan in November, rising 25.8 percent month on month. Meanwhile, the Philippines' nickel ore exports to Japan fell by 53.9 percent year on year in the period in question to 102,772 mt.