BEIJING (Asian Metal) 9 Apr 21 - One of the major producers of nickel cathode 99.96%min in North China, Jilin Jien Nickel Industry Co., Ltd. started to resume nickel cathode production at the beginning of this month. The company expected to produce about 500t in April, a source of the company revealed to Asian Metal.

"We have completed the equipment maintenance and started to resume the production of nickel cathode 99.96%min at the beginning of this month," the source said, and revealed that the plant began equipment maintenance in November last year. It put off resumption of production because nickel cathode 99.96%min prices fluctuated widely after the Spring Festival. The plant plans to produce around 500t of nickel cathode in April, stable from the output before the shutdown.

The company purchased nickel ore to produce nickel cathode 99.96%min, with an annual production capacity of 8,500t. It produced about 3,500t in 2020, while had no output so far since November last year. He expects to produce about 500t of nickel cathode in April, holding no stocks now.

On Thursday, mainstream prices for nickel cathode 99.96%min stay at RMB126,500-127,000/t (USD19,315-19,391/t) EXW D/P in Chinese market, down by RMB500/t (USD76.34/t) from Wednesday.  In view of stable market trading, the source predicts that prices for nickel cathode 99.96%min would keep firm in the coming week.