Nickel Ore " Sluggish RKAB Approvals Drive Potential for Ore Price Hikes" Indonesian domestic nickel ore prices have risen significantly increase this week. For the first half of March, the Indonesian Nickel Ore Benchmark Price (HPM) was set at $17.329/dmt, an increase of 1.32%. However, according to SMM data, average premiums has increased for 1.4%, 1.5%, and 1.6% grade laterite nickel ore were reported at $35, $39, and $39.5/wmt, respectively, with 1.6% grade reaching a delivered price of $65.6–$74.6/wmt. This strengthening of premiums reflects both the release of restocking demand from smelters and pessimistic expectations regarding RKAB quota reductions. Simultaneously, the delivery price for 1.2% grade limonite has edged up to $24–$26/wmt. Pyrometallurgical Ore: From a supply and demand perspective, Sulawesi is transitioning into the dry season; Konawe has reached optimal production levels, while Morowali is recovering from previous floods. However, Halmahera continues to be hampered by thunderstorms, resulting in high moisture content and dragging down mining efficiency. The market is facing a clear trend of declining ore grades. While some NPI smelters have begun accepting grades of 1.45% or lower, the supply of high-grade saprolite remains tight. As of mid-March, the ESDM has approved approximately 100 million tons of RKAB quotas. The remaining 160 to 170 million tons are expected to be processed by the end of March. However, due to the Eid al-Fitr (Lebaran) holidays (March 18–24), approval progress is expected to lag, exacerbating short-term supply tightness. Faced with resource uncertainty, some smelters have increased trade bonuses to secure raw materials. Transactions for low-grade saprolite are emerging at fixed prices lower than high-grade ores. Conversely, Limonite prices remain low due to a tailings dam landslide at a major MHP project, which has forced production lines to operate at low loads, hindering demand recovery. However, Limonite prices are expected to eventually follow Saprolite upward due to new project stockpiling and external island demand. Hydrometallurgical Ore Although the spot supply of hydrometallurgical ore is relatively sufficient, a tailings dam landslide at an MHP project in a certain industrial park has forced related production lines to operate at low loads, leading to a temporary weakness in demand. However, given the concerns over RKAB approval uncertainty, the stockpiling needs of newly commissioned projects, and the growing demand from outer islands, hydrometallurgical ore prices are expected to follow the trend of pyrometallurgical ore and remain elevated. On March 3, 2026, Tri Winarno, Director General of Mineral and Coal, clarified that rumors of a "25%–30% universal increase in RKAB quotas" are false. Quota supplements will be based on individualized assessments of production capacity and compliance, with the approval process not expected to start until the second half of 2026. Market Outlook: Due to the overall delay in RKAB approvals, nickel ore prices in April are expected to remain resilient with a strong "easy to rise, hard to fall" trend. Nickel Pig Iron "NPI Prices See Periodic Retracement as Tug-of-War Intensifies Between Cost Support and Downstream Pressure" The average price of SMM 10-12% NPI average price rose by RMB 0.3 per nickel unit week-on-week to RMB 1090.2 per nickel unit (ex-works, tax included), while the Indonesia NPI FOB index decreased by USD 0.65 per nickel unit to an average of USD 138.28 per nickel unit. This week, following consecutive price drops in stainless steel finished products and LME/SHFE nickel, the High-Grade NPI market experienced panic selling and low-price liquidation, entering a phase of periodic decline. From the supply side, With ore prices remaining elevated, smelter production costs continue to rise. However, triggered by the sharp decline in futures markets, some traders began offloading arbitrage stocks at low prices, leading to a general softening of upstream quotes.From the demand side, Weighed down by falling stainless steel prices and the influx of low-priced spot goods, most steel mills have lowered their bid intentions, exerting downward pressure on NPI prices. Overall, while cost support for smelters remains, downstream suppression is evident. The combination of futures-driven market sentiment and loosening upstream quotes has led to a periodic retracement in High-Grade NPI Overall outlook, market transactions will remain under pressure in the short term as the cost-tug-of-war between upstream and downstream continues. However, the downward room for NPI prices is expected to be limited.
Mar 20, 2026 18:58[SMM Rare Earth Weekly Review: Rare Earth Prices Pulled Back Significantly, Downstream Inquiries and Procurement Decreased] Affected by fluctuations in futures prices, confidence in the Pr-Nd oxide market dropped sharply. Traders proactively sold off cargoes at low prices, causing transaction prices in the Pr-Nd oxide market to fall rapidly. As of today, Pr-Nd oxide prices had already pulled back to 690,000-700,000 yuan/mt.
Mar 19, 2026 16:17![[SMM Events] 2026 GRMI: 200+ Executives & Companies Registered! Join us in Tokyo this June for Recycling Industry](https://imgqn.smm.cn/production/admin/votes/imagesECPmG20260316150318.jpeg)
The 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from May 11–12, 2026. The summit aims to bring together leading global enterprises, research institutions, industry experts, and policymakers in the fields of renewable metals and battery recycling.
Mar 16, 2026 13:49[SMM Daily Review: Rising Ore Prices Provide Strong Cost Support, High-Grade NPI Prices Were Gradually Raised] March 13 News, SMM's upstream sentiment factor for high-grade NPI was 2.92, up 0.01 MoM, while the downstream sentiment factor for high-grade NPI was 1.72, up 0.07 MoM.
Mar 13, 2026 14:04【BDI Continues to Fall】 The Baltic Dry Index (used to measure freight rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities) fell on Wednesday, as the decline in Capesize rates overshadowed gains in Panamax and Supramax rates. The main index tracking Capesize, Panamax, and Supramax rates fell 32 points to 1,374. The Baltic Capesize Index dropped 102 points to 1,935. The average daily earnings for Capesize vessels decreased by $847 to $16,050. Meanwhile, the Baltic Panamax Index rose 2 points to 1,362. Panamax vessels, which typically carry 60,000-70,000 mt of coal or grain, saw their average daily earnings increase by $19 to $12,257. Among smaller vessels, the Supramax Index rose 4 points to 961.
May 8, 2025 09:06
SHANGHAI, Mar 31 (SMM) – The BDI dropped last week as falling freight rates for Supramax vessels more than offset rising freight rates for mega ones.
Mar 31, 2023 15:20Dear User, Hello! To better assist upstream and downstream enterprises in the industry chain in monitoring market fluctuations and promptly reflecting the spot market prices, thereby reducing transaction risks and costs in the metal market, and continuously improving and deepening the research on the metal industry chain, SMM, after a period of preparation and market research, plans to introduce new price points starting from November 1. These include Selenium Powder 99.5% min Europe Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min India Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min USA Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min Russia FOB, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min USA Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min Europe Delivery, and Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min India Delivery, among others, for market reference. I. General Principles of SMM Price Methodology Shanghai Metals Market (hereinafter referred to as SMM) is a fully independent third-party service provider and does not participate in any substantive transactions. Instead, it acts as a market observer or organizer, maintaining close communication with buyers and sellers in transactions and providing relevant services to the market. SMM continuously develops, reviews, and revises its methodology through communication with industry professionals, adopting the most common product specifications, trade terms, and conditions in the industry, while giving equal importance to normal transactions that meet standard specifications. SMM reserves the right to exclude any price information deemed unreliable or unrepresentative from its pricing assessments. SMM publishes daily metal spot prices (or price indices, including the Chinese market, markets outside China, and global markets), commonly referred to as SMM prices. SMM has established corresponding methodologies for all published SMM prices (all of which are available for reference on SMM’s official website, www.smm.cn ). These methodologies specify the methods and procedures for generating and publishing SMM prices, which are strictly adhered to. To align with the actual conditions of the spot market, SMM may make necessary revisions to the SMM price methodology, which will be announced on the SMM official website before formal implementation. For any questions or suggestions regarding SMM prices or their methodologies, please contact SMM customer service (contact information can be found on the SMM official website, www.smm.cn ). This document outlines the standards for establishing price points such as Selenium Powder 99.5% min Europe Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min India Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min USA Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min Russia FOB, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min USA Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min Europe Delivery, and Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min India Delivery. The purpose of this standard is to establish a transparent and verifiable mechanism for SMM price determination. II. Formation of SMM Price Points for Selenium Powder 99.5% min Europe Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min India Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min USA Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min Russia FOB, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min USA Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min Europe Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min India Delivery, etc. 2.1 Definition SMM price points for Selenium Powder 99.5% min Europe Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min India Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min USA Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min Russia FOB, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min USA Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min Europe Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min India Delivery, etc., are formed and published by SMM in accordance with this methodology. They can be used by trading parties as reference for spot trade settlement of these price points. 2.2 New Metal-Related Price Points Added by SMM Selenium Powder 99.5% min Europe Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min India Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min USA Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min Russia FOB, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min USA Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min Europe Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min India Delivery, etc. 2.3 Quotation Generation Method SMM collects data for evaluating price points such as Selenium Powder 99.5% min Europe Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min India Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min USA Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min Russia FOB, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min USA Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min Europe Delivery, and Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min India Delivery through data collection (i.e., gathering raw data information that meets SMM standards). This includes bid and ask quotes provided by data providers for transactions not concluded on the same day, as well as actual transaction prices for spot trades provided by data providers. 2.4 Data Collection Method SMM price analysts collect data for price points such as Selenium Powder 99.5% min Europe Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min India Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min USA Delivery, Selenium Powder 99.9% min Russia FOB, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min USA Delivery, Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min Europe Delivery, and Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min India Delivery regularly (between 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM on each trading day) via phone, QQ, WeChat, fax, and email. This data may include prices of concluded transactions on the same day, companies’ expected most likely prices for pending transactions, and offers. 2.5 Product Standards Price Point Name Reference Standard Selenium Powder 99.5% min Europe Delivery Powder below 200 mesh or 1-5 mm particles. Selenium content not less than 99.5%, other elements unspecified. Selenium Powder 99.9% min India Delivery Powder below 200 mesh or 1-5 mm particles. Selenium content not less than 99.9%, other elements unspecified. Selenium Powder 99.9% min USA Delivery Powder below 200 mesh or 1-5 mm particles. Selenium content not less than 99.9%, other elements unspecified. Selenium Powder 99.9% min Russia FOB Powder below 200 mesh or 1-5 mm particles. Selenium content not less than 99.9%, other elements unspecified. Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min USA Delivery Rod or ingot form. Cadmium content 99.99%, other elements unspecified. Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min Europe Delivery Rod or ingot form. Cadmium content 99.99%, other elements unspecified. Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min India Delivery Rod or ingot form. Cadmium content 99.99%, other elements unspecified. 2.6 Pricing Unit and Presentation Price Point Name Unit Selenium Powder 99.5% min Europe Delivery USD/lb Selenium Powder 99.9% min India Delivery INR/kg Selenium Powder 99.9% min USA Delivery USD/lb Selenium Powder 99.9% min Russia FOB USD/lb Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min USA Delivery USD/lb Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min Europe Delivery USD/lb Cadmium Ingot 99.99% min India Delivery INR/kg 2.7 Delivery Method Pick-up from relevant warehouses. 2.8 Payment Method Cash payment or wire transfer. Other terms handled as per常规. 2.9 Update Time Before 11:30 AM on each trading day. III. Methodology Changes All markets evolve, and SMM has a responsibility to ensure that the methodologies for market reporting keep pace with these changes. Therefore, SMM regularly conducts internal reviews of the appropriateness of its methodologies based on industry feedback. For all substantive but non-urgent potential revisions, SMM will follow a formal external consultation process. Major changes will be announced with a notice period of at least 28 days, inviting industry comments, unless special circumstances, particularly force majeure (natural disasters, war, exchange bankruptcy, etc.), necessitate a shorter notice period. SMM is committed to carefully reviewing all comments on proposed methodology changes. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to make changes to the methodology against the wishes of some market participants. Additionally, SMM has a formal methodology consultation process. Shanghai Metals Market Information Technology Co., Ltd. Precious Metals Team November 1, 2025
PriceNov 1, 2025 17:37