Infographic

Nickel in numbers

Nickel (Ni) drawn as one poster: 3.9 Mt of world mine production in 2025, Indonesia the largest producer, 9 critical mineral lists. Scroll to draw it, then download it as SVG or PNG.

PROSPECTOR TRAILS · INFOGRAPHIC · DATA YEAR 2025NickelNiBattery mineral · symbol NiNickel goes mostly into stainless steel, with a growing share in battery cathodes and smalleramounts in alloys and plating. Class 1 (high-purity) nickel suits batteries; nickel pig iron andferronickel suit stainless steel.WORLD MINE PRODUCTION 20253.9 MtNi content. USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries.TOP PRODUCER: INDONESIA67%2.6 Mt of the world total in 2025.WORLD RESERVES 2025140 MtLargest in Indonesia (62 Mt). Ni content.CRITICAL MINERAL LISTS9Current government critical or strategic lists namingnickel, across 8 jurisdictions.TOP 3 PRODUCERS79%US NET IMPORT RELIANCE 202541%PRICE 202515,200 $/mtTOP PRODUCERS 2025Where nickel comes fromIndonesia2.6 Mt67%Philippines270 kt6.9%Russia200 kt5.1%Canada140 kt3.6%New Caledonia140 kt3.6%China120 kt3.1%Brazil70 kt1.8%Australia45 kt1.2%United States10 kt0.3%Mine production, Ni content. Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, estimates.World mine output was about 3.9 Mt in 2025, and Indonesia produced about 2.6 Mt of it (abouttwo-thirds), up from a small share a decade earlier. The Philippines, Russia, New Caledonia, Canadaand China follow. Reserves are about 140 Mt, with Indonesia and Australia largest. IEA puts the topthree refining countries at about 80%.1900–2019A century of nickel production0.00 t750 kt1.5 Mt2.2 Mt3.0 Mt190019171934195119681985200220192019: 2.6 Mt1900: 9.3 ktWorld production, USGS column 'World production'. Source: USGS Data Series 140, historical statistics.PRODUCING COUNTRIES9 countries reported nickel output in 2025Filled countries produce it; brighter is larger. Outline map simplified from Natural Earth.DEMAND BY END USE 2025What nickel is used for3.5 MtTOTAL DEMAND 2025Electric vehicles12%Battery storage0.8%Other low-emissions uses4.5%Other uses82%IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026, Ni content; total demand (CC BY 4.0).TRADE FLOWS 2024Biggest nickel trade routesNorway → Netherlands$825 mRussia → China$788 mCanada → United States$744 mChina → Other Asia$575 mAustralia → Japan$493 mHS 750210: Unwrought nickel, not alloyed. World trade $13 bn in 2024. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22).POLICYOn the critical listsUnited States (USGS): critical 2025European Union: strategic 2024United Kingdom (BGS): critical 2024Australia: critical 2024Canada: critical 2024United States (DOE): critical 2023India: critical 2023South Korea: strategic 2023China: strategic 2016EXPORT CONTROLSIndonesia: export prohibition from 2020. Source: OECD export restrictions inventory and government notices, asrecorded in our data.prospectortrails.comSources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, CEPII BACI, IEA (CC BY 4.0), World Bank,government lists. Figures rounded.PROSPECTOR TRAILSOpen data, drawn in numbers
Nickel infographic: world production, top producers, reserves, a century of output, producing countries on a map, demand by end use, trade routes, critical lists. Data year 2025.

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The numbers

The figures on the poster, with their sources. Production and reserves are USGS estimates, trade values are CEPII BACI customs data, demand is the IEA's outlook.

World mine production, 2025
3.9 Mt (Ni content) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Largest producer
Indonesia, 2.6 Mt (67% of world) USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Top three producers' share
79% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
World reserves, 2025
140 Mt (Ni content), largest in Indonesia USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Critical mineral lists
9 current lists in 8 jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, China, European Union, United Kingdom, India, South Korea, United States) government critical mineral lists
US net import reliance, 2025
41% USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
Price, 2025
15,200 $/mt (Nickel (nominal USD; LME cathodes, min 99.8% purity, settlement price (from 2005))) World Bank Pink Sheet
World production, 1900
9.3 kt (USGS historical series, as reported) USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
World production, 2019 (historical series)
2.6 Mt USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics)
Largest end use, 2025
Other uses: 82% of 3.5 Mt total demand IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 (CC BY 4.0)
Demand outlook, IEA STEPS 2030
4.5 Mt (+26% on 2025) IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 (CC BY 4.0)
Largest trade flow, 2024
Norway → Netherlands, $825 m (HS 750210, Unwrought nickel, not alloyed); world trade $13 bn CEPII BACI trade database
Export controls
Indonesia (export prohibition)

Sources

USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 · USGS Data Series 140 (historical statistics) · IEA Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 (CC BY 4.0) · CEPII BACI trade database · government critical mineral lists. Figures are rounded; country names follow our atlas.

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Nickel storyWhere nickel is minedCritical mineral listsAll infographics