Nickel
Used in stainless steel, EV batteries, and corrosion-resistant alloys. Indonesia has rapidly become the dominant producer due to laterite ore processing.
Where Nickel sits among tracked minerals
Share of global output from the #1 producing country, across all 20 minerals PlainCountries tracks
54.5% 8th of 20 higher than 12 of 20 tracked minerals
Top-producer share of global output, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more tracked minerals. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 · 2023 data year
Global Production Overview
Nearby Base Metals by leader share
Next read: Manganese · All minerals
Where Nickel sits on supply concentration
Nickel is mid-pack on supply concentration here, per the figures above. Nickel is a base-metal row: large-volume industrial use means a shift at a major mine can move prices even when the metal is not geologically scarce. Used in stainless steel, EV batteries, and corrosion-resistant alloys. Indonesia has rapidly become the dominant producer due to laterite ore processing. 2023 global mine production ≈ 3.3 Mt.
The import-reliance figure above is lower than many peers on this desk, so domestic mine or secondary supply still matters alongside the foreign production table. Top-five share is 80% (Indonesia, Philippines, Russia, Canada, Australia). Mid-concentration minerals are where #2/#3 shares still matter for scenario work.
Closest same-category neighbour by leader share: Manganese. Figures are USGS estimates for 2023 from the 2024 Mineral Commodity Summaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country produces the most Nickel?
Indonesia is the world's leading producer of Nickel, accounting for approximately 55% of global mine production in 2023.
How is Nickel used?
Used in stainless steel, EV batteries, and corrosion-resistant alloys. Indonesia has rapidly become the dominant producer due to laterite ore processing.
What is global Nickel production?
Global mine production of Nickel was approximately 3.3 Mt in 2023, measured in thousand metric tons.
How reliant is the US on imported Nickel?
The United States imports approximately 42% of its apparent Nickel consumption, making it a strategically significant commodity for US supply chain security.
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024 (U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center). Source: USGS National Minerals Information Center, data year 2023. Values are USGS estimates and may include revisions. US import reliance data from USGS.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.