Batteries · Pentlandite ((Fe,Ni)₉S₈)

Nickel

Indonesia produces 59% of the world's mining. Superalloys for jet engines and turbines, stainless and armour steels, and battery cathodes.

59%: of mining is in Indonesia
2%: of EU imports of unwrought nickel from outside the EU came from China in August 2026
3: sites watched from orbit on OreOrbit
15 Nov: next deadline: Applications close for Indonesia's 2027 nickel mining quotas

Where it is made

Share of world output held by the leading country at each stage. Sources: 2024, IEA, 2024, USGS.

What Europe imports

In August 2026, the EU imported €118.6 m of unwrought nickel from outside the EU, 2% of it from China.

China everywhere else outside the EU. Monthly value of EU imports, Unwrought nickel. Source: Eurostat Comext.

Why it matters for Europe

Finland mines and processes nickel for batteries. In October 2026 the EU signed a raw-materials partnership with New Caledonia, a French territory and a major nickel producer.

Key figures

59% of world nickel mine output came from Indonesia in 2024 (2.2 of 3.7 Mt) USGS MCS 2025
260–270 Mt is Indonesia's 2026 nickel ore mining quota, against about 320 Mt mined in 2025 Mysteel, October 2026

Sites on the atlas

NorilskMine, Russia
IMIP MorowaliProcessing plant, Indonesia
TerrafameMine, Finland

Coming up

15 Nov 2026Applications close for Indonesia's 2027 nickel mining quotas Mysteel / SMM

Options for Europe

12 EU strategic projects
Recycling meets 16% of EU demand today, against the EU's 25% goal for 2030.