It is reported that Japan's largest nickel smelting-Sumitomo Metal Mining (Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd. announced the country expected to import raw nickel ore from other countries if Indonesia tried to ban on the export of raw nickel ore in next year. In fact, the Indonesian Government had enacted laws to starting in January 2014, banning the export of unprocessed ore, which also led to the decline in confidence to foreign investors, and forcing buyers to go looking for other sources of supply. Meanwhile, Indonesia is the world's largest exporter of nickel ore and refined Tin. Currently, Sumitomo Metal Mining at Hyuga smelter in South-Western Japan has a ferronickel production capacity of 21000-22000 metric tons a year and the refinery is about 40% of nickel ore from Indonesia.
Source:
http://www.yieh.com/2.2.01.01stainlesssteelnews.aspx?no=67249&division=A9
