According to the latest data released by the Brazilian Institute of Non-ferrous Metals (ICZ), the country's nickel production amounted to 3,547 mt in March this year, falling 27.1 percent compared to February and down 45.5 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. In the first quarter of the year, the country's nickel production decreased 19.6 percent year on year to 14,178 mt.
In March this year, Brazil exported 2,801 mt of nickel, indicating a month-on-month decrease of 5.7 percent and down 9.1 percent year on year. In the January-March period of this year, Brazil's nickel exports fell 4.3 percent compared to the first three months of 2012, totaling 9,858 mt.
Meanwhile, in March of the current year apparent nickel consumption in the Brazilian domestic market including imports amounted to 1,786 mt, rising by 10.5 percent compared to February and up 7.1 percent year on year. In the first quarter of the current year, nickel use in the Brazilian market including imports amounted to 4,983 mt, rising 3.1 percent compared to January-March 2012.
