Indonesian nickel ore premiums still have room to rise, while Philippine nickel ore prices began to soften. In Indonesia, progress on RKAB quota approvals remained slow. Nickel ore traders reported that some mines' quotas had yet to be approved, leaving operations largely at a standstill. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is currently prioritizing coal supply, resulting in a slower pace of nickel ore approvals. Yesterday, SHFE nickel prices traded on a stronger note. Traders largely switched their quoting contracts to the SHFE nickel 2605 contract, and spot premiums/discounts for various refined nickel brands moved lower overall due to calendar spread adjustments. Jinchuan electrolytic nickel saw a notable drop in premiums; after procurement costs fell in the afternoon, transaction premiums declined further to below Yuan 3,500/tonne. Most traders reported a clear improvement in spot transactions yesterday.