Ferro-nickel trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in ferro-nickel was worth $16.40 billion in 2024, about 10.03 million tonnes. That is an increase of 261% since 2017, and down 13% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16.40B | 10.03M t |
| 2023 | $18.91B | 9.12M t |
| 2022 | $19.50B | 6.67M t |
| 2021 | $12.10B | 4.60M t |
| 2020 | $8.96B | 4.57M t |
| 2019 | $6.71B | 2.77M t |
| 2018 | $5.27B | 1.89M t |
| 2017 | $4.54B | 2.13M t |
Top ferro-nickel exporting countries
Indonesia is the largest exporter with 84% of world exports, followed by New Caledonia and Brazil. The top three supply 92% between them, out of 55 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | $13.75B | 84% |
| New Caledonia | $689.7M | 4.2% |
| Brazil | $587.6M | 3.6% |
| Colombia | $558.3M | 3.4% |
| South Korea | $286.7M | 1.8% |
| Netherlands | $151.3M | 0.9% |
| Dominican Republic | $96.7M | 0.6% |
| Malaysia | $53.5M | 0.3% |
| Switzerland | $52.1M | 0.3% |
| North Macedonia | $34.8M | 0.2% |
| China | $20.5M | 0.1% |
| France | $17.3M | 0.1% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are China (86%), India (2%) and the Netherlands (2%). 65 countries imported it, and the top three take 90% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $14.13B | 86% |
| India | $368.8M | 2.3% |
| Netherlands | $318.8M | 1.9% |
| South Korea | $313.8M | 1.9% |
| Taiwan | $181.3M | 1.1% |
| Italy | $161.5M | 1% |
| United States | $148.5M | 0.9% |
| Japan | $138.4M | 0.8% |
| United Kingdom | $114.8M | 0.7% |
| Spain | $92.1M | 0.6% |
| Belgium | $73.2M | 0.5% |
| France | $60.2M | 0.4% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $1.63 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the Dominican Republic averaged $8.30 per kg and Indonesia $1.47 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Ferro-nickel (HS 7202.60) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 7202.60: Ferro-alloys: ferro-nickel. HS 7202 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most ferro-nickel?
Indonesia exported $13.75 billion in 2024, 84% of the world total, followed by New Caledonia (4%) and Brazil (4%). In all, 55 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most ferro-nickel?
China imported $14.13 billion in 2024, 86% of world imports, ahead of India (2%) and the Netherlands (2%). The top three importers together take 90%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in ferro-nickel?
It was worth $16.40 billion in 2024, about 10.03 million tonnes. That is an increase of 261% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $19.50 billion. 55 countries reported exports and 65 reported imports.
What is the average price of ferro-nickel per kg?
The world average declared value was about $1.63 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the Dominican Republic averaged $8.30 per kg and Indonesia $1.47 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for ferro-nickel?
The HS code for ferro-nickel is subheading 7202.60, in chapter 72 (iron and steel). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 7202 page.
How can I find ferro-nickel buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading ferro-nickel, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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