China's H1 NPI imports fall 7% YoY as Indonesia tightens supply

China's nickel pig iron (NPI) imports totaled some 5.08 million tonnes in this year's January-June half, down 387,000 tonnes or 7.1% on year, according to new data from the country's General Administration of Customs (GACC).

Imports from Indonesia – the dominant supplier – reached 4.9 million tonnes, declining by 431,000 tonnes or 8.1% from a year earlier. Various announcements from the Indonesian government had tightened nickel ore supply during H1, which served to constrain local NPI output and in turn, hurt shipments to China. This, combined with