The average LME nickel price in H1 2015 was USD 6.2/lb, down from USD 7.8/lb in H2 2014 and USD 7.5/lb in H1 2014.

ERAMET Nickel posted current operating income of -€98 million in H1 2015, compared with -€27 million in H1 2014.
             
The continued accumulation of nickel inventories in LME warehouses in 2014 weighed on nickel prices. The consensus opinion was that the law introduced by the Indonesian government in early 2014 banning the export of unprocessed nickel ore would have a positive impact on nickel prices in the short term. But owing to the build-up of major ore inventories in China prior to the ban, and to major and unrecorded transfers of inventories of Chinese metal to LME warehouses, nickel prices trended sharply downwards in H1 2015. LME nickel metal inventories reached record highs in early June, representing, together with producers inventories, around 24 weeks of consumption. LME inventories have trended downwards in recent weeks.

Experts agree on a coming LME nickel prices increase.

• [Editor:Sophie]