Nickel ore market activity turned subdued. In the Philippines, shipment volumes from northern mines were limited, with mines largely maintaining a price-supporting stance. Loading and shipment operations faced lower efficiency due to increased rainfall. Downstream, nickel pig iron (NPI) prices edged higher, narrowing losses for NPI plants.On the London Metal Exchange (LME), trading was suspended for the Christmas holiday. SHFE nickel prices retreated slightly. Spot trading for refined nickel remained generally muted. Spot availability of Jinchuan electrolytic nickel stayed tight in the market, prompting holders of the material to significantly raise their quoted spot premiums/discounts again, leading to a sharp upward shift in the transaction focus. For other nickel brands, spot premiums/discounts saw minor increases largely in response to the lower futures price. Some traders began gradually switching their quoted contract basis to the SHFE nickel contract 2602.