This list reveals the top 10 nickel importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world nickel imports totaled US$22.7 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $89.1 million worth of nickel led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $52.5 million
2. Tunisia: $10.1 million
3. Egypt: $6 million
4. Morocco: $3.3 million
5. Angola: $2.7 million
6. Madagascar: $2.7 million
7. Nigeria: $2.4 million
8. Libya: $2.1 million
9. Botswana: $1.8 million
10. Algeria: $1.7 million
Asian Importers
Asia imported $10.1 billion worth of nickel led by the following countries:
1. China: $4.6 billion
2. Japan: $2.1 billion
3. Taiwan: $824.8 million
4. South Korea: $801.4 million
5. India: $552.6 million
6. Singapore: $399.1 million
7. Malaysia: $274.8 million
8. Turkey: $172.6 million
9. Hong Kong: $93.1 million
10. Thailand: $93 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $7.4 billion worth of nickel led by the following EU members:
1. Germany: $1.5 billion
2. United Kingdom: $1.2 billion
3. France: $825.2 million
4. Italy: $741.9 million
5. Finland: $617 million
6. Austria: $500.9 million
7. Belgium: $497.4 million
8. Sweden: $378 million
9. Spain: $374.7 million
10. Netherlands: $250.3 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $148.6 million worth of nickel led by the following countries:
1. Brazil: $102.5 million
2. Argentina: $19.8 million
3. Costa Rica: $8.4 million
4. Colombia: $4.9 million
5. Cuba: $3 million
6. Chile: $2.9 million
7. Peru: $2.4 million
8. Ecuador: $951,000
9. Venezuela: $688,000
10. Dominican Republic: $625,000
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $356.6 million worth of nickel led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $181.4 million
2. Saudi Arabia: $37.9 million
3. Israel: $36.4 million
4. Iran: $35.1 million
5. Kuwait: $21.5 million
6. Oman: $20.1 million
7. Iraq: $11.1 million
8. Qatar: $9.4 million
9. Bahrain: $1.8 million
10. Lebanon: $586,000
North American Importers
North America imported $3 billion worth of nickel led by the following countries:
1. United States: $2.4 billion
2. Canada: $336.8 million
3. Mexico: $265.1 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $58.6 million worth of nickel led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $54 million
2. New Zealand: $2.9 million
3. New Caledonia: $1.2 million
4. Papua New Guinea: $385,000
5. French Polynesia: $56,000
6. Samoa: $43,000
7. Solomon Islands: $15,000
8. Fiji: $12,000
9. Kiribati: $11,000
10. Palau: $10,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing nickel importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage decline for globally imported nickel was -23.4%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Nickel Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Nickel Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
