The top companies based on nickel production as of 2017 were Vale from Brazil, Norilsk Nickel from Russia, and China's Jinchuan. In 2017, Vale produced 288 thousand metric tons of nickel, while Norilsk Nickel produced some 157.4 thousand metric tons of nickel.
As of 2018, the United States had one active nickel mine, located in Michigan. U.S. production figures for nickel as a refinery by-product are not available. However, the U.S. recycles substantial amounts of nickel, amounting to nearly 90 thousand metric tons from scrap in 2015. There are also considerable imports of nickel, with Canada being the major country of origin. Approximately two thirds of all consumed nickel in the U.S. is used for the production of stainless and heat-resistant steel.
In 2017, the global consumption of nickel amounted to some 2.14 million metric tons. That year, the average price for one metric ton of nickel was 10,410 U.S. dollars, a significant decrease from 22,910 U.S. dollars in 2011. Nevertheless, forecasts for the production, consumption, and price of nickel are showing a tendency to rise over the course of the years to come.
