Nickel - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
A metal used in stainless steel, alloys and some rechargeable batteries.The tables cover mine production and reserves measured by nickel content. Refining converts mine feedstocks into products for steelmaking, alloys and batteries.
Nickel Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production (metric tons)
Nickel Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production · Unit: metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indonesia | 771,000 | 1,040,000 | 1,580,000 | 1,800,000 | 2,310,000 | 2,600,000 | 66.7% | +237.2% |
| #2 | Philippines | 334,000 | 387,000 | 345,000 | 400,000 | 354,000 | 270,000 | 6.9% | -19.2% |
| #3 | Russia | 283,000 | 205,000 | 222,000 | 200,000 | 205,000 | 200,000 | 5.1% | -29.3% |
| #4 | Canada | 167,000 | 134,000 | 143,000 | 180,000 | 125,000 | 140,000 | 3.6% | -16.2% |
| #4 | New Caledonia | - | 186,000 | 200,000 | 230,000 | 116,000 | 140,000 | 3.6% | - |
| #6 | China | 120,000 | 109,000 | 114,000 | 110,000 | 115,000 | 120,000 | 3.1% | 0.0% |
| #7 | Brazil | 77,100 | 76,000 | 88,500 | 89,000 | 67,500 | 70,000 | 1.8% | -9.2% |
| #8 | Australia | 169,000 | 151,000 | 155,000 | 160,000 | 98,000 | 45,000 | 1.2% | -73.4% |
| #9 | United States | 16,700 | 18,400 | 17,500 | 17,000 | 7,490 | 10,000 | 0.3% | -40.1% |
| - | World Total | 2,510,000 | 2,730,000 | 3,270,000 | 3,600,000 | 3,710,000 | 3,900,000 | 100.0% | +55.4% |
Nickel Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves · Unit: metric tons · Global Implied Reserve Life: 35.9 years
| Rank | Country | Reserves (metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indonesia | 62,000,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #2 | Australia | 25,000,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - For Australia, Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were 11 million tons. |
| #3 | Brazil | 16,000,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #4 | Russia | 8,300,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #5 | New Caledonia | 7,100,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. - Overseas territory of France. |
| #6 | Philippines | 4,800,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #7 | China | 4,400,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #8 | Canada | 2,200,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #9 | United States | 340,000 | - | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| - | World Total Reserves | 140,000,000 | 100.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel: Production: Mine | metric tons | 18,400 | 17,500 | 16,400 | 7,490 | 10,000 |
| Nickel: Production: Refinery, byproduct | metric tons | W | W | W | W | W |
| Nickel: Imports: Ores and concentrates | metric tons | 18 | s | 4 | 12 | 20 |
| Nickel: Imports: Primary | metric tons | 108,000 | 127,000 | 112,000 | 105,000 | 100,000 |
| Nickel: Imports: Secondary | metric tons | 34,400 | 37,300 | 39,600 | 40,000 | 45,000 |
| Nickel: Exports: Ores and concentrates | metric tons | 14,900 | 15,200 | 9,100 | 5,630 | 11,000 |
| Nickel: Exports: Primary | metric tons | 11,600 | 11,100 | 12,200 | 15,900 | 9,800 |
| Nickel: Exports: Secondary | metric tons | 29,200 | 44,400 | 57,200 | 46,900 | 35,200 |
| Nickel: Consumption: Reported, primary | metric tons | 92,100 | 96,700 | 107,000 | 114,000 | 120,000 |
| Nickel: Consumption: Reported, secondary, purchased scrap | metric tons | 156,000 | 153,000 | 140,000 | 121,000 | 130,000 |
| Nickel: Consumption: Apparent, primary | metric tons | 97,500 | 117,000 | 98,500 | 90,300 | 90,000 |
| Nickel: Consumption: Apparent, total | metric tons | 254,000 | 270,000 | 238,000 | 211,000 | 220,000 |
| Nickel: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | 38% | 43% | 41% | 43% | 41% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Nickel
Which country leads nickel production (mine production)?
Indonesia leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production, with 2,600,000 metric tons (estimated) (66.7% of the reported world total). World output was 3,900,000 metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported nickel reserves?
Indonesia ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 62,000,000 metric tons (Reserves) against a reported world total of >140,000,000 metric tons.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for nickel?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at 41% (Net import reliance as a percentage of total apparent consumption). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (Primary nickel) were Canada (44%), Norway (11%), Australia (8%).
How is nickel classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (2022 & 2025 lists). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Austenitic stainless steel, high-nickel EV battery cathodes, aerospace superalloys, and electroplating. Nickel is mined from magmatic sulfide deposits and tropical laterite ores. Laterite processing via rotary kiln-electric furnace (RKEF) yields nickel pig iron for stainless steel, while high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) yields battery intermediates.