Nickel Market Size - Industry Report on Share, Growth Trends & Forecasts Analysis (2025 - 2030)

The Report Covers Global Nickel Market Forecast & Usage by Industry and is Segmented by Application (Stainless Steel, Alloys, Plating, Casting, Batteries, and Other Applications) and Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle-East and Africa). The Report Offers Market Sizes and Forecasts in Volume (kilotons) for all the Above Segments.

Nickel Market Size - Industry Report on Share, Growth Trends & Forecasts Analysis (2025 - 2030)

Nickel Market Size

Nickel Market Summary
Study Period 2019 - 2030
Base Year For Estimation 2024
Forecast Data Period 2025 - 2030
CAGR 4.80 %
Fastest Growing Market Asia Pacific
Largest Market Asia Pacific
Market Concentration Low

Major Players

Nickel Market Summary

*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Compare market size and growth of Nickel Market with other markets in Chemicals & Materials Industry

Plastics, Polymers, and Elastomers

Adhesives and Sealants

Commodity Chemicals

Water and Wastewater Treatment

Advanced Materials

Construction Chemicals and Materials

Nickel Market Analysis

The Nickel Market is expected to register a CAGR of greater than 4.8% during the forecast period.

The nickel market was valued at more than 2.1 million tons in 2021.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdowns, social distancing norms, and trade sanctions triggered massive disruptions across the global supply chain networks, severely hampering the growth of the nickel market. The extended lockdowns across major economies resulted in a slowdown in industrial activity, thereby impacting the demand and price of nickel. Major mining companies like Nickel Asia and Global Ferronickel Holdings suspended some of their operations in response to the pandemic, with some players citing the limited ability to keep current maintenance shutdown schedules. However, with the steady recovery of the industrial sector and the resumption of mining activities, demand for nickel is anticipated to rise during the forecast period.

  • Over the medium term, the growth of the nickel market is likely to be driven by the increasing demand for nickel in stainless steel alloys. Currently, about two-thirds of nickel sold each year goes into stainless steel. Also, increasing demand for nickel in automobile batteries, energy storage systems in wind turbines, or solar panels at a lower cost is the major driving factor for the market growth.
  • Stringent environmental regulations and possible health risks due to increasing sulfur dioxide emissions from the nickel melting process and volatility in nickel prices are likely to hinder the market's growth.
  • The growing popularity of electric vehicles and the emerging application of nickel in the medical industry are likely to act as opportunities in the future.
  • Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the nickel market in the future, due to the high consumption rate of nickel and the presence of large stainless steel manufacturing companies and battery manufacturers in this region. Furthermore, burgeoning demand in China and India is expected to boost the prospects of the metal market.

Nickel Industry Overview

The nickel market is fragmented in nature. The major companies include Norilsk Nickel, Vale, BHP, Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd, Glencore, and others.

Nickel Market Leaders

  1. Norilsk Nickel

  2. Vale

  3. BHP

  4. Glencore

  5. Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Nickel Market - Market Concentration.png
Need More Details on Market Players and Competiters?
Download PDF

Nickel Market News

  • August 2022: NMDC Ltd. announced its decision to explore opportunities overseas in a bid to mine lithium, nickel, and cobalt in order to meet the growing demand in India. The state-run iron-ore producer is planning to start mining in Australia, as it holds a 90.02% stake in the country's Legacy Iron Ore Ltd.
  • December 2021: Mitsui & Co. Mineral Resources Development (Asia) Corp. (MMRDA) and Sojitz will sell all their shares in CBNC (36% in total to Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd (SMM). With the sales of the shares, SMM's shareholding ratio in CBNC will increase from the current 54% of the outstanding shares to 90%.
  • October 2021: Renault Group announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Terrafame, for a future supply of nickel sulphate. With this agreement, Renault Group will secure a significant annual supply of nickel sulphate from Terrafame, representing up to 15 GWh of annual capacity.
  • In July 2021: BHP announced the signing of a nickel supply agreement from its Nickel West asset in Western Australia, with one of the world's leading sustainable energy company, Tesla Inc.

Nickel Market Report - Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET DYNAMICS

  • 4.1 Drivers
    • 4.1.1 Rising Demand for Corrosion Resistant Alloys in the Oil and Gas Industry
    • 4.1.2 Other Drivers
  • 4.2 Restraints
    • 4.2.1 Volatility in the Supply Demand Scenario
    • 4.2.2 Environmental Considerations During Mining Activities
  • 4.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis
  • 4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers
    • 4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products and Services
    • 4.4.5 Degree of Competition

5. MARKET SEGMENTATION (Market Size in Volume)

  • 5.1 By Application
    • 5.1.1 Stainless Steel
    • 5.1.2 Alloys
    • 5.1.3 Plating
    • 5.1.4 Casting
    • 5.1.5 Batteries
    • 5.1.6 Other Applications
  • 5.2 Geography
    • 5.2.1 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.2.1.1 China
    • 5.2.1.2 India
    • 5.2.1.3 Japan
    • 5.2.1.4 South Korea
    • 5.2.1.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.2.2 North America
    • 5.2.2.1 United States
    • 5.2.2.2 Canada
    • 5.2.2.3 Mexico
    • 5.2.3 Europe
    • 5.2.3.1 Germany
    • 5.2.3.2 United Kingdom
    • 5.2.3.3 Italy
    • 5.2.3.4 France
    • 5.2.3.5 Rest of Europe
    • 5.2.4 South America
    • 5.2.4.1 Brazil
    • 5.2.4.2 Argentina
    • 5.2.4.3 Rest of South America
    • 5.2.5 Middle-East and Africa
    • 5.2.5.1 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.2.5.2 South Africa
    • 5.2.5.3 Rest of Middle-East and Africa

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements
  • 6.2 Market Share**/Ranking Analysis
  • 6.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players
  • 6.4 Company Profiles
    • 6.4.1 Anglo American
    • 6.4.2 BHP
    • 6.4.3 Cunico Corp.
    • 6.4.4 Eramet
    • 6.4.5 Glencore
    • 6.4.6 INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL
    • 6.4.7 Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd
    • 6.4.8 Norilsk Nickel
    • 6.4.9 Pacific Metal Company
    • 6.4.10 QUEENSLAND NICKEL SALES
    • 6.4.11 Sherritt International Corporation
    • 6.4.12 Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd
    • 6.4.13 Terrafame
    • 6.4.14 Vale
    • 6.4.15 Votorantim
  • *List Not Exhaustive

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS

  • 7.1 Growing Popularity of Electric Vehicles
  • 7.2 Emerging Application in the Medical Industry
**Subject to Availability
You Can Purchase Parts Of This Report. Check Out Prices For Specific Sections
Get Price Break-up Now

Nickel Industry Segmentation

Nickel is a chemical element and a transition metal, mostly used for high-grade steel manufacturing. The nickel market is segmented by application and geography. By application, the market is segmented into stainless steel, alloys, plating, casting, batteries, and other applications. The report also covers the market size and forecasts for the Nickel market in 15 countries across major regions. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done on the basis of volume (kilotons).

By Application Stainless Steel
Alloys
Plating
Casting
Batteries
Other Applications
Geography Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
Italy
France
Rest of Europe
South America Brazil
Argentina
Rest of South America
Middle-East and Africa Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Rest of Middle-East and Africa
Need A Different Region or Segment?
Customize Now

Nickel Market Research FAQs

What is the current Nickel Market size?

The Nickel Market is projected to register a CAGR of greater than 4.80% during the forecast period (2025-2030)

Who are the key players in Nickel Market?

Norilsk Nickel, Vale, BHP, Glencore and Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd are the major companies operating in the Nickel Market.

Which is the fastest growing region in Nickel Market?

Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2030).

Which region has the biggest share in Nickel Market?

In 2025, the Asia Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Nickel Market.

What years does this Nickel Market cover?

The report covers the Nickel Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Nickel Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Nickel Industry Report

The global nickel industry, as analyzed by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports, is projected to experience significant growth due to its increasing usage in various industries, particularly in the production of stainless steel (SS) for vehicles. The demand for nickel, a key factor in the nickel market share, size, and revenue growth rate, is driven by the consumption and production of SS in the Americas region, which has been growing at a significant rate. This leads to a positive nickel demand forecast. The construction of nickel-based battery manufacturing plants by various nickel producing companies is also expected to boost the demand for nickel. Asia Pacific has emerged as the largest regional market, with China being the largest consumer of SS products in the world. Nickel also plays a crucial role in plating applications, providing wear resistance, corrosion resistance, durability, and decorative finish to plated components. The nickel market is scattered across different countries, with Indonesia, Australia, Russia, South Africa, and Canada being major contributors to the world’s resources. This industry analysis, which includes a market forecast outlook and historical overview, is available as a free report PDF download.