Shipments of nickel laterite ore from Indonesia have resumed gradually following a crackdown on nickel mines in the country on October 25, delegates attending the China International Nickel & Cobalt Conference in Yichang, Central China, told Fastmarkets on Tuesday November 5.
Indonesian officials launched an inspection of domestic nickel laterite ore mines late on October 25, market sources confirmed last week. The inspection was to target unlawful behavior, including exporting laterite ore with nickel content above 1.7% and the illegal purchase of export ore quota from mines that have not been granted a quota."[Indonesian authorities] initiated a sudden crackdown on nickel mines [late last month], mainly checking quota documentation and grade of ore being shipped. Many ships loaded with ore had formed long queues at ports, waiting to be checked," one delegate said."I heard that a few legitimate ships have already been given the go-ahead. The...