Global Nickel Investment Horizon Outlook Q4 2022

Despite the LME's efforts to prevent a repeat of March's short squeeze, it appears that one has been coming since October. This might run into the first quarter of 2023 and extend the current period of high prices. While stainless will remain nickel's main consumer, it will be the energy transition that takes nickel into the next structural deficit from 2027. Nickel in battery precursor demand will increase at a CAGR in excess of 13% over the next decade so that by 2032 this segment will take almost one third of total primary nickel demand.